Chapter 440

Nina

“Come on,” Enzo said gently as he pulled away from our hug. “Let’s get inside.”

I nodded, letting Enzo take my hand. We meandered back toward the bustling party, where the music, laughter, and the vibrant energy of the celebration slowly took over our senses once more. It was a bit jarring after being out in the quiet, calm woods, but it wasn’t entirely unwelcome.

For some reason, I felt oddly unsettled, though. I couldn’t explain it; I had only come out into the woods for some fresh air and to visit my sister’s grave, nothing more.

And yet, it felt as though something else had happened. Like I was being watched. But even as I stopped briefly to glance over my shoulder one last time, there was nothing there. The night was as calm as ever.

“You okay?” Enzo asked, noticing my hesitation.

I nodded, his voice snapping me back to the present, and I offered him a smile. “Mhm,” I replied, wrapping my hands around his arm and leaning on him. “I’m great.”

But Enzo was clearly not entirely convinced. “You sure?” he asked. “Because I found your shattered ginger ale glass on the ground earlier.”

I furrowed my brow, genuinely puzzled. I couldn’t recall dropping my glass or the sound of it shattering. “Oh, I’m not sure,” I replied, trying to piece together an explanation to make it make sense, more so for myself than for Enzo. “Maybe I set it down on something and forgot about it, and it got knocked over?”

Enzo gave me a strange look, his gaze searching my face as if he could read my thoughts. It made me stop in my tracks, and I asked, “What’s wrong?”

He said nothing for a moment, reaching out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear. But his eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. “You know you can tell me anything, right, Nina?” he asked, his voice so low it was barely more than a whisper.

I furrowed my brow again, somewhat taken aback by his question. Of course I knew I could confide in him. But truly, aside from a bit of confusion, there was nothing to confide in him about.

“Of course I know I can tell you anything, my love,” I assured him. “But really, nothing is wrong. I just wanted to take a little walk earlier and clear my head. What’s the big deal?”

“You’re just acting a little strange, that’s all.” As Enzo spoke, his eyes flickered down to my belly. He placed his hand there, a warm and gentle touch that made the tension dissipate from my shoulders, although I hadn’t even realized that I was tense.

His concern made me smile, and I shook my head, placing my hand over his. “I’m fine. Really.”

Enzo nodded, and the concern gradually melted away from his features, quickly replaced by a soft smile. “Okay,” he said, although I could tell he was still going to be watching me closely after my little disappearing act. “But remember, if you think of anything that’s bothering you tonight or if you feel sick because of the pregnancy or anything else, let me know. I’m here for you, alright?”

I couldn’t help but smile at his caring nature. I stood up on my tiptoes and kissed him gently, my lips brushing against his. “I love you,” I whispered. “I’ll let you know if anything bothers me.”

Enzo returned my smile, looking a bit relieved. “I love you too,” he replied, pressing his forehead against mine for a moment before we pulled apart.

With that settled, the two of us finished making our way back inside. The party hadn’t let up one bit, and it would likely be raging all night. The sounds of the music and the guests filled my ears, drowning out the quiet of the outside.

But as we headed inside, I felt a little… strange. It was as if I was lighter, somehow. Like something had been weighing me down for a long time, but it was gone now.

I stopped, glancing up at the night sky one last time just before we headed inside. The moon and stars were still casting their gentle glow over the landscape, creating an ethereal image of peace that was somehow palpable.

A thought came into my mind as I looked out at the gardens, and I couldn’t help but smile. Maybe the Moon Goddess had heard my prayers, and that was why I felt the way I did.

“Ready?” Enzo asked, looping his arm around my shoulders.

I nodded as I met his soft gaze. “Ready.”

…

After finding our friends through the thick throng of people inside, the five of us found a table to sit at and enjoy some of the delectable food that was being served.

It was a nice relief after being on my feet all night, and it felt good to be with my friends, especially knowing that for all I knew, I wouldn’t be seeing them for a very long time after tonight.

“You had us scared for a minute there,” Jessica said as we sat next to each other, sharing a plate of hors d’oeuvres between the two of us.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Everyone always worries about me,” I teased. “I promise, guys, I’m fine.”

Jessica, although she didn’t seem entirely convinced, nodded and leaned her head on my shoulder. “I’m gonna miss you.”

“I’m just a portal away,” I said, laying my head on top of hers. “But I’ll miss you, too.”

It was true; I would miss my friends. Even though I wanted to learn more about the werewolf realm, about my roots, it felt as if a part of me was missing here. It wasn’t Mountainview. It could never compare, really. And although I would be with my family here, it wouldn’t be so easy to see my friends.

Life could get in the way, just as it always did.

There was no telling how much we would all actually see each other after tonight for the coming months; and after what I had learned about some of the… attitudes toward humans here, it just added another layer of complexity, another obstacle to surmount if we wanted to see each other.

I decided not to think about it, though. Not tonight, at least. For now, I just wanted to enjoy the party with my friends and my husband.

But then, as the night wore on, something unexpected happened. I was the first to notice it, and when I did, I froze in my place.

Lori’s human scent was returning.

The perfume that had masked her human nature, had begun to wane. My eyes widened in alarm, and my gaze darted around the room, checking for danger.

Nearby, it seemed as though some of the other werewolves had noticed the change already, just as I had. Lori was completely oblivious, but nearby werewolves were already sniffing the air and shooting each other confused glances as they tried to discern the source of the scent.

I had to warn Lori. We needed to reapply that perfume, quickly, and in private.

I slowly stood and began to circle around the table, trying not to raise any red flags—but it was already too late. At a nearby table, another werewolf shot to his feet, sniffing the air as his eyes began to glow. And then, his voice cutting through the din, he shouted the five words I had been dreading the most.

“Does anyone else smell… humans?”