AFTER THE CHOICE
1527 Words
EPISODE 5:
Outside, Mooncrest Pack was in chaos.
Inside, for the first time in 5 years, I felt safe.
The pack had turned.
And Kade had chosen.
Now we just had to survive what came next.
The first night with an Alpha in my house felt illegal.
Kade didn’t sleep. Not really.
I found him at 3AM in the living room. Sitting on the floor next to the twins’ fort. Watching them breathe.
“Can’t sleep?” I whispered.
He didn’t look up. “Every 5 minutes I wake up to make sure they’re still here. That this isn’t a dream.”
“They’re real,” I said. “And they’re stubborn. Just like their dad.”
He finally looked at me. And his eyes were red. Not from crying. From not sleeping.
“Thank you,” he said. “For keeping them safe.”
I nodded and went back to bed. Alone.
Because even after "marry me" in front of the Council, we were still... figuring it out.
---
*6:47AM*
Leo woke us up.
“Daddy, Mommy, the news is talking about us.”
Kade and I ran to the TV.
Breaking news. Mooncrest Pack.
_Alpha Kade Blackwood publicly claims rejected mate and twins. Council in emergency session._
Comments were already flooding.
`She’s a gold digger`
`He finally did the right thing`
`Those kids are so cute omg`
Kade turned it off. “Don’t read it.”
“I won’t,” I lied.
---
By 9AM, the house was chaos.
Pack lawyers. Security. Two new guards Kade hired overnight.
And reporters outside the gate.
Lila sat on the stairs, drawing. “Daddy, why are there cameras?”
“Because people are nosy,” Kade said, ruffling her hair. “You don’t have to talk to them. Ever.”
My phone buzzed. 47 messages.
Old pack members. Old friends. My mom.
`Ava baby are you okay??`
`I knew they were his!!`
`Is it true he proposed??`
I answered only my mom.
`I’m okay. The kids are okay. I’ll call later.`
---
*12PM. Council Office.*
We weren’t summoned. We went.
Kade said “If we hide, they win.”
This time the room was empty. Just Elder Marcus and one secretary.
“Alpha,” Marcus said, tired. “The Council is... divided.”
“Then un-divide them,” Kade said. “I invoked claim law. I named my Luna. What else is there?”
“The engagement to Selena,” Marcus said. “Her father is demanding damages.”
Kade laughed. Cold. “Tell the Beta he can demand it from hell.”
I stepped forward. “What about me? What am I now?”
“You’re under Alpha protection,” Marcus said. “Which means you cannot be touched, arrested, or removed from pack territory without the Alpha’s permission.”
“And the kids?”
“Blackwoods. Full rights. Heirs.”
It felt like I could breathe again.
---
*3PM. Grocery store.*
We tried to go normal. Just for an hour.
Kade, me, two carts, two kids.
It lasted 5 minutes.
“Ava Carter!”
“Is that really them?”
“Can I take a picture?”
Kade put his arm around me. “No photos. Give us space.”
The Alpha voice. Everyone scattered.
In the cereal aisle, Lila whispered, “Mommy, are we famous now?”
“I don’t know, baby.”
Kade answered: “You’re not famous. You’re just mine.”
---
*6PM. The Threat.*
Another text. Unknown number.
_You think protection means anything? I was supposed to be Luna. You took it. I’ll take everything from you. -S_
I showed Kade.
His whole body went still.
“Give me your phone.”
He called someone. “Double security. Now. And trace this number.”
“Selena?” I asked.
“Has to be.” He looked furious. “I’m sorry. I should’ve handled her before this.”
“Don’t be sorry. Be ready.”
That night we didn’t sleep in separate rooms.
Not like that.
Kade slept on the couch again. But this time, the twins slept on either side of me.
And Kade left the door open.
---
*DAY 2*
The Council called. Final ruling.
We went back. Just Kade and me this time. Left the kids with the new nanny.
Elder Marcus looked 10 years older.
“Alpha Blackwood,” he said. “The Council recognizes Ava Carter as Luna-elect of Mooncrest Pack. Effective immediately.”
Kade squeezed my hand.
“The engagement to Selena Voss is dissolved. There will be no damages.”
“And if her father tries anything?” Kade asked.
“Then he answers to you,” Marcus said. “And to pack law.”
Outside, Selena was waiting.
Alone. No Beta. No white dress. Just jeans and anger.
“Ava,” she said.
“Don’t,” Kade stepped in front of me.
“I’m not talking to you,” Selena snapped. “I’m talking to her.”
I moved around Kade. “What?”
“You don’t love him,” she said. “You love what he can give you. Status. Money. Protection.”
“And what did you love?” I asked. “The title?”
She flinched.
“I loved him for 5 years,” Selena said. “While you were gone.”
“And he chose me in 5 seconds,” I said softly. “That’s not my fault.”
Kade took my hand. “We’re done here.”
As we walked away, Selena yelled, “You’ll regret this! He doesn’t even know you!”
Kade stopped. Turned.
“I know enough,” he said. “I know she raised my kids alone. I know she never asked me for anything. I know she’s stronger than anyone in this pack.”
He looked at me. “And I know I’m in love with her.”
My heart stopped.
Selena’s face crumbled. She walked away.
---
*That night.*
The twins were asleep. Pizza again. Because we had no energy to cook.
Kade and I sat on the floor. Backs against the couch.
“You didn’t have to say that,” I said.
“I did,” Kade said. “I’ve been saying it in my head for 5 years.”
“Kade...”
“Ava, I’m not asking you to say it back. I’m not asking for anything. I just need you to know.”
Silence.
Then: “I need time,” I said. “But... I’m not running this time.”
He nodded. “Time is all I need.”
My phone buzzed.
Mom: `I’m so proud of you. Come home soon. Let me meet my grandbabies.`
I cried. Finally.
Kade pulled me into his side. No words. Just held me.
---
*DAY 3*
Normalcy. Or what normal could be.
School forms for the twins. New pack IDs.
Leo: _Leo Blackwood_
Lila: _Lila Blackwood_
They were so proud.
At night, Kade taught them how to throw a ball.
“Daddy, watch!” Lila threw it. It hit him in the face.
He fell over dramatically. “I’m dead.”
Both kids screamed laughing.
I watched from the doorway.
This was the man who rejected me.
This was also the man who got on his knees in front of 12 elders.
People can change.
---
*DAY 4. The Letter.*
Certified mail.
From the Council.
_Effective immediately, Luna Ava Carter will begin public duties. First appearance: Mooncrest Gala, 2 weeks._
_Attendance mandatory._
Kade read it and cursed. “They’re testing you.”
“What do I do?”
“You let me teach you. And you remember you’re the Luna. Not them.”
He spent the next 3 hours teaching me pack etiquette.
How to walk. How to talk. How to shut down disrespect with one look.
“Like this,” he demonstrated. Ice cold stare.
I tried. Looked ridiculous.
He laughed. First real laugh in days.
“Okay maybe don’t do that one.”
---
*DAY 5. Tonight.*
The house is quiet.
Twins asleep. Security outside.
Kade is in the kitchen, washing dishes. Because he said “You’ve done enough.”
I walk in.
“Hey.”
“Hey.”
We stand there. Awkward.
“You’re really staying?” I ask.
“I’m really staying,” he says.
“Then stop sleeping on the couch.”
His head snapped up. “What?”
“The guest room has a bed. Bigger than the couch.”
He stared at me. “Ava...”
“It’s not that,” I rushed. “It’s just. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable. For the kids. So they see us as... a family.”
He nodded slowly. “Guest room. Got it.”
As he walked past me, he paused.
“Thank you. For not shutting the door. Again.”
He disappeared down the hall.
I looked at my phone. No new threats.
Outside, Mooncrest was quiet.
The pack had turned.
The Alpha had chosen.
And for the first time, I believed we might actually be okay.
But 2 weeks until the Gala.
And Selena was still out there.
The fight wasn’t over.
It was just starting.
- Writer
