Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Astra
The streets of Turnville are busier than I expected, filled with humans going about their daily lives. I clutch Luna closer against my chest as I navigate the unfamiliar roads, my heart hammering with nervous excitement.
I’m here. I actually made it.
I refuse to let Lucian’s cruel words get to me. I force the image of his face out of my head. I won’t think about him. I won’t. My heart tightens as I look around, desperate to find Andrew and leave everything else behind. Lucian included.
The town is larger than I imagined from Andrew’s descriptions, with winding, cobblestone streets and buildings that seem to lean against each other for support. I realize I have no idea where to find him—in all our brief meetings at the forest edge, I never thought to ask for his exact address.
“Excuse me,” I call out to a woman sweeping her front steps. “Do you know where I can find Andrew Crew?”
She pauses, broom in hand, and gives me a curious look. “Andrew? You might try Murphy’s Tavern this time of day. He’s usually there after work.”
I thank her and follow her directions through the maze of streets. My stomach flutters with nervous anticipation. After all these years, I’m about to see Andrew in his own world, his own life. Soon we’ll be married, and this will be my world, too.
Murphy’s Tavern is dim and smoky, filled with the sound of clinking glasses and low conversation. I hover in the doorway for a moment, feeling out of place among the rough-looking patrons, before I spot a familiar figure hunched over a mug at the far end of the bar.
“Andrew?”
He turns at the sound of my voice, and his face goes completely pale for a moment, like he’s seeing a ghost. Then shock crashes over his features, followed by a look of fear before he forces his expression into a smile.
“Astra?” He slides off his barstool so quickly he nearly knocks over his drink, his hand shaking as he steadies it. “What—How did you—I mean, what are you doing here?”
His voice cracks slightly on the last word, and I notice how much he’s blinking. The astonishment in his voice is so complete, so overwhelming, that for a moment I wonder if I made a mistake coming to Turnville.
“I came to find you,” I say, suddenly feeling uncertain. “I had to leave the pack. You said—You said if I ever needed to leave, I could come to you.”
“I—” He runs a hand through his hair, his eyes darting around the tavern like he’s looking for an escape route. “Yes, of course I said that. I just—I wasn’t expecting…”
He trails off, and I can see him struggling to regain his composure. The silence between us feels awkward and heavy.
“Andrew?” I take a tentative step closer. “Are you alright? You don’t look like you’re very happy to see me.”
“No, no, I’m fine.” He forces a laugh that doesn’t sound genuine. “You just—You caught me by surprise. I never thought you’d actually...” He shakes his head. “Come here.”
He crosses the space between us and pulls me into his arms. The embrace is tight, almost desperate, but there’s something off about it. His body is tense, and I can feel his heart racing against my chest.
“I had to leave,” I say quietly against his shoulder, trying to recapture the comfort I used to feel in his presence. “Things got dangerous with the pack.”
He pulls back at once, his hands gripping my shoulders. His eyes search my face with an intensity that feels almost frantic. “Dangerous how? What happened? Did anyone follow you here? Does anyone know where you’ve gone?”
The rapid-fire questions catch me off guard. There’s panic in his voice, as if he’s afraid of the answers.
“I don’t think anyone followed me,” I say slowly. “I was careful. I made it look like I died in the forest.”
Relief flashes across his face so quickly, I almost miss it. “Th–That’s good. Smart thinking.” He pauses, seeming to gather himself. “I’m sorry, I’m just—This is such a shock. A wonderful shock,” he adds quickly. “I just never imagined...”
“You never imagined I’d actually leave?” I finish when he trails off again.
“Something like that.” He releases my shoulders and takes a step back, running his hand through his hair again. “Look, we can’t talk here. Too many ears. Let me—Let me take you somewhere private.”
As we move through the streets, I try to match my pace to his longer strides, but he’s walking too fast, almost like he’s fleeing something. The late afternoon sun casts everything in golden light, but the atmosphere between us feels strained. Nothing like the joyful reunion I imagined.
“So, you actually left,” he says, more to himself than to me. “You actually did it.”
“You sound surprised.”
“I am surprised.” He glances at me sideways. “I never thought you’d have the courage.”
The words sting more than they should. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“That’s not what I meant.” But his tone suggests that maybe it is exactly what he meant. “I just—You always seemed so resigned to your situation. Content, even.”
“Content?” I stop and put my hands on my hips. “Andrew, I told you how miserable I was. How badly they treated me.”
“You did. You did.” He turns to face me, and out of the blue, his expression completely changes.
The strained smile becomes warmer, more genuine.
“But that’s all behind you now, isn’t it?
You’re here with me.” He moves closer, taking my hands in his.
“My brave girl. You actually did it. You escaped.”
The shift in his demeanor is so sudden, it catches me off guard. His eyes are bright now, excited even, and the tension I sensed earlier seems to be melting away.
“I’m proud of you,” he continues, his voice gaining warmth and enthusiasm. “I know how hard it must have been to leave everything you knew. But you did it for us, didn’t you? For our future together.”
I nod, feeling some of my uncertainty ease at his obvious joy. This is more like the Andrew I remember from our meetings—kind, caring, genuinely pleased to see me.
“I can’t believe you’re really here,” he says, pulling me close again. This time, the embrace feels different, more natural. “All those years of waiting, of hoping you’d find the strength to leave. And you did.”
As we resume walking, his whole posture is different. He’s walking more slowly now, his arm around my waist as he points out various shops and landmarks with growing excitement.
“Here we are,” he says eventually, stopping in front of a small inn with faded paint and narrow windows. “It’s not the fanciest place in town, but it’s clean and safe. Perfect for you to rest while I make arrangements.”
“Arrangements?” I look up at the modest building, confusion settling in my chest. “I thought—Aren’t we going to your home?”
“Oh, Astra.” His smile is gentle and understanding.
“I wish we could, but it wouldn’t be right.
Small towns like this? People talk. I want to do this properly, treat you with the respect you deserve.
” He cups my face tenderly. “Besides, my place is a mess right now. I’m fixing it up, making it perfect for when we’re married. ”
The explanation makes sense, but disappointment still settles heavily over me. After the long journey to get here, all I want is to curl up somewhere safe with him beside me.
“Just for a night or two,” he promises, apparently able to read my expression. “Just until I can get everything arranged. The wedding, the paperwork, all of it.”
“When can we get married?” I ask, grasping for the future I came here to claim.
His face lights up with genuine happiness. “Soon. Very soon. I just need to get a few things in order first.”
Luna chooses this moment to leap down from my shoulder and begin sniffing around the inn’s entrance. Andrew’s eyes track her movement, and his expression shifts slightly; something cold flickers across his features, but he hides it.
“About that,” he says, his voice still warm but with an underlying edge. “The cat’s going to have to go.”
I blink at him, certain I must have misheard. “What?”
“The cat,” he repeats, nodding toward Luna. “She can’t stay with us. You’ll need to get rid of her.”
The words hit me like a physical blow. “Get rid of her? Andrew, Luna is—She’s family. She’s all I have left from my old life.”
“That’s exactly the problem.” His smile doesn’t waver, but there’s something calculating in his eyes now. “You’re starting fresh, Astra. New life, new beginnings. You can’t cling to the past forever.”
“But you always asked about her,” I protest, bewildered. “In all our conversations, you seemed interested in meeting her. You said—”
He cuts me off with a shrug. “I was being polite. Look, I’m not an animal person. Never have been. They’re dirty, they spread disease, and frankly, I don’t want one in my home.”
The casual dismissal of something so precious to me makes my chest feel hollow. “Andrew, I can’t just abandon her. She saved my life on the journey here. She has been my only companion—”
“And now you have me.” His voice takes on a patronizing tone, like he’s explaining something obvious to a child. “You don’t need a pet anymore, Astra. You have a man who loves you, who’s going to take care of you.”
“It’s not the same thing,” I say, my voice small but firm. “Luna isn’t just a pet. She’s my friend.”
Something flashes in Andrew’s eyes—annoyance, maybe even anger—before he forces his expression back to gentle understanding.
“Look, I get it. You’re attached. But marriage means compromise, and this is important to me.” He reaches out to touch my arm. “There are plenty of farms around here. I’m sure someone will take her in, give her a good life. Somewhere she can chase mice in a barn.”
“I won’t abandon her,” I say, crouching down and pulling Luna protectively into my arms. “I can’t.”
Andrew’s jaw tightens slightly, but he keeps his voice calm. “Well, we’ll talk about it more tomorrow. You’re tired from your journey, not thinking clearly. Once you’ve had time to rest, you’ll see I’m right.”