Chapter 4 The New Life

CHAPTER 4: THE NEW LIFE

Ava woke up to the gentle sound of birds chirping outside her window. A fresh breeze drifted into the room, carrying the scent of flowers and dew. She sat up slowly, letting the peaceful air of the morning wash over her like a warm embrace.

It had been five years since she escaped.

Five years of living with Irene and her family. Five years of finally feeling safe-of finally belonging.

There was a soft knock on her door.

"Yes, come in," Ava called, straightening up.

Irene stepped in with a bright smile. "Morning, Ava. How was your night?"

Ava let out a yawn, stretching her arms. "Peaceful, as always."

"Good. Now go wash up while I make the bed. Breakfast is ready."

Ava blinked. "You should've woken me up to help!"

Irene scoffed playfully. "It's no problem. Come on, hurry up."

Ava got out of bed and reached for the sheets. "Don't worry, I'll make the bed."

Seeing Irene about to protest, Ava quickly added, "Seriously, just give me ten minutes."

Defeated but smiling, Irene relented. "Alright, take your time."

As Ava made the bed, her thoughts drifted. Every single day for the past five years, Irene and her parents had treated her like family. They never judged her for her past or her decision to run. Instead, they welcomed her as their own.

Ava didn't know how to repay such kindness. The least she could do was help with chores-though Irene rarely allowed it.

Once the bed was done, she headed to the bathroom to freshen up. Afterward, she stood before an oval mirror framed in silver, brushing and braiding her hair neatly over one shoulder. Thanks to her upbringing in the pack, she knew how to present herself-after all, it had been required for a future Luna to always look her best.

When she stepped outside, the scent of freshly baked bread greeted her. A cool breeze brushed against her skin as she made her way toward the kitchen, where Irene stood waving.

"Good morning!" Irene called. The table was beautifully set with different dishes.

Ava blinked in surprise. "What's the celebration?"

Irene grinned. "It's been five years since you came. We're celebrating your new life."

Laughing softly, Ava took the plate offered to her. "To new life, then."

She sat down and gave Irene a warm, grateful look. "I know I've said this a million times, but thank you. If it weren't for you and your family... I don't know what would've become of me. I truly hope one day I can repay you."

"And you could, Irene may not need that but I sure do" Eliot said with a mischievous grin however, irene smacked him on the head. Eliot though few years older than Irene has enjoyed teasing Ava ever since she came to their home.

Irene reached out, taking her hand gently. "Ava, we're all the same. You don't owe us anything. I'd do even more for you even if it meant risking my life. You're family, okay?"

Tears welled up in Ava's eyes. "Thank you so much."

"Now come on, let's eat before it gets cold."

Moments later, Irene's parents joined them at the table.

"Looks like you girls beat us to it, and you too Elliot" said Laila, Irene's mother.

Victor chuckled as he sat. "You've both grown up so fast."

The room filled with laughter and conversation. Ava looked around the table, warmth blooming in her chest. She had a family now-one that saw her for who she truly was.

Even if a part of her feared this peace wouldn't last forever.

---

After the meal, Ava and Irene cleared the dishes.

"Ava, you don't have to-" Irene began, reaching for a plate.

"Please. It's the least I can do."

Irene smiled. "Alright, but at least let me help."

They washed dishes side by side, chatting and laughing as the sunlight poured in through the windows.

Later, Ava retreated to her room for a nap. When she awoke, the sun was low in the sky, painting everything gold. She stepped outside and found Irene near the porch.

"Hey," Irene greeted. "You slept all day. Tired from the chores?"

Ava smiled. "Maybe. But I don't regret it. I feel refreshed now. I want to take a walk. The weather's perfect. Wanna come?"

Irene shook her head. "Not today, maybe Eliot would,"

Not happening it's a great day dearies too great for me to waste time with either of you I have places to be sadly so well to miss me " with that he left leaving both girls shocked later in busting into laughter.

They was never a dull moment with Eliot Ava thought. "I'll head out now ,see you later Irene."

"Sure But make sure you're back before supper-and be careful, okay?"

"Of course."

Ava wandered into the woods, taking in the comforting sights and smells. The breeze brushed her face gently.

"What a beautiful day for a walk," she whispered to herself.

"...but make sure to be back by supper, and be careful, okay?" She heard them again.

"Sure," Ava replied with a faint smile.

The sun was warm but gentle, its golden rays kissing her skin with the comfort of spring. A soft breeze drifted through the trees, lifting strands of her hair. She inhaled deeply, the forest air calming her racing thoughts.

"What a beautiful day for a walk," she murmured to herself.

But even the serenity of nature couldn't stop her mind from wandering-back to the past she tried so hard to forget.

Do they miss me?

Or maybe... they were glad when I left?

What about Adrian?

Then her breath hitched slightly.

Elijah.

Her heart skipped. She could still see his face-those piercing hazel eyes, the cold yet conflicted gaze the last time she saw him. Ava swallowed hard.

She had run from him. From all of them.

Back then, she was young-too young to face the truth. Fear had clouded her judgment. She hadn't been ready. But it had been five years.

Surely everything had changed by now.

Maybe he's married, she thought bitterly, rubbing her fingertips along her neck, where his mark still lingered. Or not.

Adrian. Elijah. The pack.

They were ghosts now. She had a new life, a new family Irene. Eliot. Victor. Laila. They had taken her in when no one else would.

"I'm free now," she whispered aloud. "Right?"

But even as she spoke it, doubt tugged at her chest. The freedom she fought for felt... fragile.

She shook her head. "No, Ava

CHAPTER 4: THE NEW LIFE

Ava woke up to the gentle sound of birds chirping outside her window. A fresh breeze drifted into the room, carrying the scent of flowers and dew. She sat up slowly, letting the peaceful air of the morning wash over her like a warm embrace.

It had been five years since she escaped.

Five years of living with Irene and her family. Five years of finally feeling safe-of finally belonging.

There was a soft knock on her door.

"Yes, come in," Ava called, straightening up.

Irene stepped in with a bright smile. "Morning, Ava. How was your night?"

Ava let out a yawn, stretching her arms. "Peaceful, as always."

"Good. Now go wash up while I make the bed. Breakfast is ready."

Ava blinked. "You should've woken me up to help!"

Irene scoffed playfully. "It's no problem. Come on, hurry up."

Ava got out of bed and reached for the sheets. "Don't worry, I'll make the bed."

Seeing Irene about to protest, Ava quickly added, "Seriously, just give me ten minutes."

Defeated but smiling, Irene relented. "Alright, take your time."

As Ava made the bed, her thoughts drifted. Every single day for the past five years, Irene and her parents had treated her like family. They never judged her for her past or her decision to run. Instead, they welcomed her as their own.

Ava didn't know how to repay such kindness. The least she could do was help with chores-though Irene rarely allowed it.

Once the bed was done, she headed to the bathroom to freshen up. Afterward, she stood before an oval mirror framed in silver, brushing and braiding her hair neatly over one shoulder. Thanks to her upbringing in the pack, she knew how to present herself-after all, it had been required for a future Luna to always look her best.

When she stepped outside, the scent of freshly baked bread greeted her. A cool breeze brushed against her skin as she made her way toward the kitchen, where Irene stood waving.

"Good morning!" Irene called. The table was beautifully set with different dishes.

Ava blinked in surprise. "What's the celebration?"

Irene grinned. "It's been five years since you came. We're celebrating your new life."

Laughing softly, Ava took the plate offered to her. "To new life, then."

She sat down and gave Irene a warm, grateful look. "I know I've said this a million times, but thank you. If it weren't for you and your family... I don't know what would've become of me. I truly hope one day I can repay you."

Irene reached out, taking her hand gently. "Ava, we're all the same. You don't owe us anything. I'd do even more for you-even if it meant risking my life. You're family, okay?"

Tears welled up in Ava's eyes. "Thank you so much."

"Now come on, let's eat before it gets cold."

Moments later, Irene's parents joined them at the table.

"Looks like you girls beat us to it," said Laila, Irene's mother.

Victor chuckled as he sat. "You've both grown up so fast."

The room filled with laughter and conversation. Ava looked around the table, warmth blooming in her chest. She had a family now-one that saw her for who she truly was.

Even if a part of her feared this peace wouldn't last forever.

---

After the meal, Ava and Irene cleared the dishes.

"Ava, you don't have to-" Irene began, reaching for a plate.

"Please. It's the least I can do."

Irene smiled. "Alright, but at least let me help."

They washed dishes side by side, chatting and laughing as the sunlight poured in through the windows.

Later, Ava retreated to her room for a nap. When she awoke, the sun was low in the sky, painting everything gold. She stepped outside and found Irene near the porch.

"Hey," Irene greeted. "You slept all day. Tired from the chores?"

Ava smiled. "Maybe. But I don't regret it. I feel refreshed now. I want to take a walk. The weather's perfect. Wanna come?"

Irene shook her head. "Not today. But make sure you're back before supper-and be careful, okay?"

"Of course."

Ava wandered into the woods, taking in the comforting sights and smells. The breeze brushed her face gently.

"What a beautiful day for a walk," she whispered to herself.

"...but make sure to be back by supper, and be careful, okay?"

"Sure," Ava replied with a faint smile.

The sun was warm but gentle, its golden rays kissing her skin with the comfort of spring. A soft breeze drifted through the trees, lifting strands of her hair. She inhaled deeply, the forest air calming her racing thoughts.

"What a beautiful day for a walk," she murmured to herself.

But even the serenity of nature couldn't stop her mind from wandering-back to the past she tried so hard to forget.

Do they miss me?

Or maybe... they were glad when I left?

What about Adrian?

Then her breath hitched slightly.

Elijah.

Her heart skipped. She could still see his face-those piercing hazel eyes, the cold yet conflicted gaze the last time she saw him. Ava swallowed hard.

She had run from him. From all of them.

Back then, she was young-too young to face the truth. Fear had clouded her judgment. She hadn't been ready. But it had been five years.

Surely everything had changed by now.

Maybe he's married, she thought bitterly, rubbing her fingertips along her neck, where his mark still lingered. Or not.

Adrian. Elijah. The pack.

They were ghosts now. She had a new life, a new family-Irene. Victor. Laila. They had taken her in when no one else would.

"I'm free now," she whispered aloud. "Right?"

But even as she spoke it, doubt tugged at her chest. The freedom she fought for felt... fragile.

She shook her head. "No, Ava.