Filed to story: Tangled in Moonlight Unshifted Novel by Lenaleia
Selene makes a soft sound of dissent in my head. Do not mistake a man’s intentions with random kindness, Ava. It will only cause harm for both of you.
***
I’m surprised when Clayton strides into the room. his presence instantly commanding my attention. His expression is unreadable as he approaches my bedside, but then he leans down and brushes a soft kiss against my cheek.
“Ava,” he murmurs in greeting, the deep rumble of his voice sending an involuntary shiver down my spine.
The easy affection has me off balance. Since I’m not in heat anymore, I’d assumed he would treat me like he did when we first met. “Alpha Clayton,” I reply, proud of how steady my voice sounds despite my inner panic.
Clayton takes a seat in the chair beside my bed, his piercing gaze fixed on me with an intensity that makes me want to squirm. “I hear you refused the apartment I chose for you.”
My cheeks flush at his blunt statement. “I told your sister I didn’t need it.”
His face is still inscrutable. “And why is that?”
There’s an edge to his tone that I can’t quite read. Protectiveness? Irritation? I grip the thin hospital blanket tightly in my fists, steeling myself.
“I have a life to get back to,” I say simply, holding his stare. “A job, an apartment. I appreciate your generosity, but I don’t need charity.”
His eyes narrow slightly at my words. “It wasn’t charity, Ava. It was an offer to take care of you, to provide for you as is my duty and privilege as your…” He hesitates, then rephrases. “After what transpired between us.”
I feel heat bloom in my cheeks at the reference to the passion of the past week. I shake my head. “I told you, I don’t want or need anything more from your pack.
You’ve done enough. I should be apologizing for being so much trouble.”
Clayton leans forward, resting his arms on his knees. “Tell me about this life you’re so eager to return to,” he says at last. “What’s so important that you’d turn down the protection and care of my pack?”
I bristle at his prodding, my defenses rising. “Why does it matter?” I challenge. “It’s my life. I don’t need to justify myself to you.”
His jaw tightens infinitesimally, a muscle ticking there. “As the alpha who claimed you, even temporarily, it’s my responsibility to ensure your safety and wellbeing.
And as a true omega, I don’t feel comfortable not being able to keep an eye on you until things settle down. Your identity will draw trouble.”
I open my mouth to protest that he doesn’t owe me anything, that what happened was a mistake, but Selene’s voice stops me.
Don’t be a fool, Ava. He’s the alpha. You don’t want to provoke his wolf by refusing his care so blatantly. You’ve already violated pack law by not announcing your presence when you moved here.
I press my lips together, considering. As much as it grates, Selene is rightClayton is the alpha, and openly defying him could be dangerous. He was polite and kind at our first meeting, but things have changed.
I’m not sure what he wants from me. I’d expected him to let me go; I hadn’t expected him to try to keep me here, in an apartment of his choosing.
“I’m just trying to live my own life,” I say at last, aiming for a more diplomatic tone. “Away from the politics and expectations of other packs. I don’t want to get tangled up in anything else right now.”
Clayton’s expression softens ever so slightly at my words. “I understand your need for independence,” he says quietly. “But you must know that no shifter can survive outside of a pack. You saw the rogues who kidnapped you; they were feral.”
I drop my gaze, heat flooding my cheeks again. He’s right, of course. Wolves need their packs.
It’s just that I’m not a normal wolf.
I can’t tell him that, though. I don’t need him trying to save me from whatever dangers being even more abnormal might bring.
I just want to go home and drink coffee with Mrs. Elkins and spend my days at the Novel Grind, living quietly. Why is it so hard?
“You’ll be able to move in tomorrow,” Clayton says, and I jerk my head up in surprise.
“I haven’t agreed—“
“Ava.” Clayton reaches out to grab my hand, squeezing it gently. He looks conflicted. “I am not one to keep a woman in my pack against her will, but with your identity, I can’t let you go. You won’t tell anyone what pack you’re from…”
“I-“
“It’s fine, Ava. I’m not going to pester you for the information. But as an alpha, I can’t just overlook the situation. You are in Aspen territory. I’m sorry, but you don’t have a choice in this matter. Not until we get things figured out.”
Ask him if the apartment allows dogs, Selene says.
The apartment Clayton talked about is in the middle of the city, in a highrise that towers above every other building in the area. It reeks of money.
I follow Clayton through the opulent lobby, cringing as my sneakers squeak against the polished marble floor. I don’t belong here, in this sleek, luxurythroughminimalism space.
Two large men in crisp suits stand by the entrance, their eyes following our every move.
“Guards?” I murmur to Clayton, trying to keep my voice casual despite the unease prickling up my spine.
He nods once, ushering me towards the elevators. “For the human residents, yes. We aim to avoid any incidents between humans and shifters.”
My eyebrows lift at that, and I risk a sidelong glance at him as we step into the empty elevator car. “Incidents happen often around here?”
Clayton’s expression darkens momentarily as he hits the button for the top floor. “Not often,” he allows.
“But no pack is immune. There are always hotheads who lack control, rogues who seek chaos. We have to take precautions.”
I absorb that silently, my mind whirling. It was not infrequent to hear my father complaining about young idiots who wandered into the human territory and harmed or killed humans. The Blackwood Pack didn’t treat humans well. It’s different here.
I’ve seen the differences firsthand, but I still didn’t expect humans and shifters to live in the same building.
The top floor is exclusive. You can see it at first glance; there are only two doors, despite the long hallway. There should be plenty of room for other apartments, yet there aren’t any.
Clayton guides me down the corridor to the door on the left, his hand a warm weight against the small of my back. I tense at his touch, my skin tingling with wariness.
“Home sweet home,” he says, unlocking the door and waving me in.
The apartment is stunning. There are huge windows all along the back of the apartment. It has an open floor plan, bringing in all the natural light, and even with the furniture that Clayton has provided, I could easily go bowling in the free space. Or roller skating.
I turn in a slow circle, taking in the high ceilings, the modern furnishings, the stateoftheart kitchen tucked into an alcove.
“Wow,” I murmur despite myself. “It’s…”
“Suitable?” Clayton prompts, watching me closely. There’s a glint of something like pride in his eyes as he surveys my reaction. “I had it outfitted with everything you might need.”
I swallow hard, feeling a surge of discomfort at the thought of him making such personal arrangements for me. “It’s very nice,” I manage. “But really, it’s too much. I’m happy to find a place on my own-“
“Ava.” Clayton steps closer, his height and physical presence suddenly overwhelming. “We’ve been over this. For now, you need to remain under my protection. This is nonnegotiable.”
I bristle at his words, that simmering sense of independence that has kept me going all these years
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flaring to life. “I don’t need your protection,” I argue, lifting my chin to meet his piercing gaze. “I was doing just fine on my own before-“
“Before you were kidnapped by rogue shifters?”
Clayton cuts me off, his tone laced with a sharp edge. “Before you went into a heat so potent that even an alpha as disciplined as myself was rendered powerless against it?”
I flush hotly at the memory, heat unfurling low in my belly. Clayton holds my stare, his eyes glittering with a mixture of challenge and something darker, more primal.
“You may think you have everything under control,” he continues in a low rumble. “But the truth is, you’re a rare thing in our world, Ava. An omega with immense power that you don’t fully understand yet. You need guidance and protection until you can learn to master it.”
I open my mouth to protest, but Selene’s warning rings in my mind.
Don’t fight him, Ava. Play along for now, at least until we can find a way out of this mess. Safely.
Grinding my teeth, I force myself to nod. “Fine. I’ll stay here for now.” The words feel like shards of glass in my mouth.
A muscle ticks in Clayton’s jaw, but he inclines his head in acceptance. “Good. Get settled in. My apartment is across the hall, so I won’t be far. There are clothes in the bedroom; I had my secretary shop for them. Of course, we can go shopping if they aren’t in your taste
“You went shopping?” I hadn’t even thought about a change of clothes. I’m wearing some that Clayton had brought over, but I didn’t think he’d bought an entire wardrobe.
“You have nothing,” he says, as if that’s all the explanation that’s needed. “The fridge is also stocked, but I’m not sure if anything is to your taste. Someone did bring some dog food and bowls…”
I can feel a thin thread of panic wiggling in my chest. The weight of this kindness is suffocating. I feel like I’m trapped in a gilded cage. How am I supposed to leave when he’s taken care of every need before I can even voice it?
Clayton must sense my distress because his expression softens into one of concern. “We can pick up your dog tomorrow if you’d like,” he offers, misreading the source of my turmoil. “Though… has someone been taking care of it while you’ve been gone?”