His Moonsilver Mate (Abby and Kade) novel Chapter 49

Chapter 49

Abby

Someone yanked the curtains open.

I groaned and pulled the blanket over my head.

“No.”

“Good afternoon.”

That got my attention.

I lowered the blanket enough to see Chloe standing by the window with her hands on her hips.

“What time is it?”

“Almost twelve-thirty.”

I sat up too fast and grabbed the mattress when the room tilted.

Chloe pointed at me. “Exactly. Slow down.”

“Why didn’t anyone wake me?”

“Kade said to let you sleep.”

Of course he did.

Memories from last night arrived all at once.

Diana knocking Knox onto the floor.

Kade spinning me around afterward.

Kissing him.

His mouth against my neck.

If I don’t stop now, I’m going to mark you.

Heat rushed into my face.

Chloe narrowed her eyes. “What?”

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I threw a pillow at her.

She caught it and tossed it back onto the bed.

“Get up. Cassandra expected us at the square twenty minutes ago.”

“Oh no.”

“Oh yes. Bathroom. You have ten minutes.”

“That’s not enough.”

“You slept through breakfast and half the morning. Move.”

Ten minutes later, Chloe was dragging me toward town while I was still trying to make my hair look intentional.

The square had changed completely since yesterday.

Lanterns stretched overhead. Long tables lined the edges, leaving the center open for music and dancing. Bundles of wheat, autumn leaves, apples, candles, and flowers covered almost every

available surface.

Children ran between adults carrying ribbons and baskets. Somewhere nearby, something smelled good enough to make my stomach growl.

Chloe heard it.

“You missed breakfast.”

“I noticed.”

We found Cassandra near the central platform, directing three people at once.

“No, the candles go there. Fruit on the smaller tables. And someone fix those lanterns before I climb the ladder myself.”

A man above us sighed and adjusted the string.

Chloe stopped beside her.

“Delivery complete.”

Cassandra looked at me. “Finally.”

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“I was asleep.”

“Same thing.”

Cassandra handed Chloe a basket.

“Thank you. Take these to the fountain.”

Chloe stared at it.

“I thought my work was done.”

“It has barely started.”

I laughed as she walked away muttering.

Cassandra pointed to a pile of branches and dried wheat.

“You. Come help me.”

For the next few minutes, we wound wheat and autumn leaves around one of the wooden frames

near the platform.

Then Cassandra glanced at me.

“So?”

I knew what she meant.

“It went well.”

“How well?”

“Better than I expected.”

Her expression brightened.

“Diana is stronger under moonlight.”

“How much stronger?”

I lowered my voice.

“Enough that I knocked Kade over.”

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I grinned.

She laughed.

“Quiet.”

“You told me.”

“Not so everyone can hear.”

She leaned closer. “Did he survive?”

“Barely.”

Diana stirred smugly.

I added, “He also tried an Alpha command on her.”

“And?”

“She ignored him.”

Cassandra laughed again.

“I wish I’d seen that.”

“So do I. Diana wanted to know if he thought she was a dog.”

That nearly finished her.

When she finally recovered, she shook her head.

“I like your wolf.”

“She likes herself enough for everyone.”

Diana ignored that.

Cassandra went back to the decorations.

“So moonlight definitely affects her.”

“Yes. But we still don’t know much beyond that. Tiernan found old accounts about strength and protection, but nothing clear.”

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Cassandra’s hands slowed.

“Nothing unusual?”

“Naomi was strong. Faster than me, which she reminded me of constantly. But her wolf way ordinary.”

“Could Diana come from someone else in Mom’s family?”

“It’s possible.”

“Did Mom ever mention anything?”

“Not that I remember.”

I looked down at the branch in my hands.

“We should probably ask.”

Cassandra nodded.

“We should contact your uncle.”

I looked at her. “You still talk to him?”

“Of course.”

That must have shown on my face because her expression softened.

“Abby, your mother’s family didn’t disappear after she died.”

“I know. I just… we never see them.”

“You were young, and Liam was very clear after your parents died that neither of you was leaving

Moonhaven.”

“That sounds like Liam.”

“Your uncle wanted you both with him. He offered to take you in.”

I stared at her.

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I looked toward the packhouse.

Ldon’t remember any of that.”

“You weren’t supposed to worry about it.”

Cassandra touched my arm.

“Your uncle never abandoned you. He respected Liam’s decision.”

“We can call him?”

“After the equinox.”

I nodded.

“After the equinox.”

Someone shouted Cassandra’s name from across the square.

She sighed.

“Apparently no one can survive five minutes without me.”

“I’ll finish this.”

She squeezed my shoulder and hurried away.

By late afternoon, my back hurt, my arms hurt, and Cassandra was somehow still moving.

When she finally found me again, she took one look at my face.

“Tea.”

“I thought we were still working.”

“We’re done.”

I glanced around at the dozens of people still working.

“We are?”

“We are.”

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Then I noticed several garment bags spread across the sofa.

No.”

“Yes.”

“What are those?”

“Tomorrow.”

“I thought I was wearing what the other girls are wearing.”

“You were supposed to.”

“Supposed to?”

“You missed rehearsal.”

“Because apparently mysterious moon powers require twelve hours of sleep.”

“Exactly.”

I picked up my tea.

“So I don’t have to do the ritual?”

“Not with the other girls.”

Relief lasted less than a second.

Cassandra smiled.

“You’re assisting me instead.”

I nearly inhaled my tea.

“With what?”

“The blessing. Greeting families. Helping with the offerings.”

“That sounds like Luna work.”

“It is.”

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“Neither did I.”

stared at her.

“You were practically born for this.”

Cassandra laughed.

“Naomi was the Alpha’s daughter. Not me.”

“I know.”

“She had lessons about pack law, formal dinners, alliances, elders. I was from a perfectly respectable family, but no one expected me to lead anything.”

She leaned back.

“I was only a little older than you when I met Nathaniel.”

“Really?”

“One day I was arguing with Naomi about a dress. The next, the future Alpha of Moonhaven was my

mate.”

“What did Mom think?”

“She laughed at me first.”

“That sounds right.”

“Then she cried because she thought I was leaving her.”

I smiled.

“You two were that close?”

“Since childhood.”

Cassandra looked down at her cup.

“Once she stopped being dramatic, she decided that if I was going to become Luna, I was going to do it properly.”

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“That one seems useful.”

Cassandra smiled.

“I thought moving to Moonhaven meant-losing her. Then Naomi came to my wedding and

Adrian.”

I smiled.

“My dad.”

“Nate’s Beta. He spent most of the wedding pretending not to stare at her.”

“Did it work?”

“Not even slightly.”

“And Mom?”

“She pretended not to notice.”

“That sounds more convincing.”

“It wasn’t.”

I laughed.

“By the end of the night, they both knew. A few months later, Naomi was preparing to move to Moonhaven too. She never let me forget how much I had cried about leaving her.”