Filed to story: Tangled in Moonlight Unshifted Novel by Lenaleia
But I’m not that scared, powerless girl of my past. I’m Luna of the Westwood Pack, mate to Lucas, magician-in-training (or something to that effect), and protector of my people.
I’ve grown.
Blowing on my hands in a futile effort to bring warmth back to my numb fingers, I squint across the vast expanse of snow at a group of wolves coming in. “Is that Vester’s group?”
No. Ethan’s. Selene rests her furry head against my leg, panting after her playful romps through a few snow drifts. She’s very much in her element in this weather, and I’ve had more than one mother come to me complaining that their pups have all been following Selene around the compound to play in the snow all day.
It wouldn’t be a problem, they stress—repeatedly—if they were old enough to shift. But they’re not, and it’s cold, and they’re obsessed with the only dog they’ve ever seen.
Wolves aren’t nearly as cool as a husky, apparently.
I can see two kids right now, peeking around a truck like we can’t see them. They’re whispering to each other and pointing in Selene’s direction.
Did I mention that their favorite game is pelt-the-husky-with-snowballs? Yeah. That’s a thing now.
When Selene catches them out of the air, they always fall over laughing.
I should go tell them to go home, but I’ve been there and done that. Repeatedly.
They keep coming back within minutes, giggling from whatever abysmal hiding spot they’ve found this time. Selene’s the most popular person in camp among their age group.
Even their mothers have given up, especially when other young wolves would shift and play in the snow, too. Unlike in our traditional pack lands, we don’t have miles of land to roam and keep our inner wolves happy. We’re holed up in this relatively tiny area, and our numbers keep growing.
Oh, yes. More and more refugees have arrived. Some rogue. Some from allied packs. And even some who had been presumed lost from our own packs.
We have groups now who spend weeks at a time traversing the country, bringing back news and people.
Wolf’s Landing has grown, even in this harsh weather.
As the wolves draw near, I finally recognize Ethan’s wolf form and raise my hand in a welcoming wave.
My smile falters when I spot Ivy trailing behind him.
Great. Just what I need today.
Ivy’s popular among the wolves. As a strong she-wolf, she’s done a lot for the compound. As an ally, she’s great. But no matter what, I can’t seem to get along with her. Around everyone else, she’s a warm and inviting leader of the Aspen Pack. Around me?
Things are a little different.
It’s like she always sees me as lacking, and that she should be the Luna here. Lucas knows how I feel about her, but doesn’t see what I do.
The best weeks are when she’s out scouting with the men, even though that only gives her even more bonus points among my own pack members.
We make our way to the main debriefing tent, a far cry from the cozy cabin we once used. The refugees needed it more than we did, so here we are, huddled in canvas walls that barely keep out the biting wind.
Ethan and Ivy shift, quickly donning warm clothes while I busy myself with the wood stove. The tent’s not exactly toasty, but at least it’s a reprieve from the relentless cold outside. As I add another log, the fire crackles to life, casting flickering shadows across the canvas walls.
“Thanks, Ava,” Ivy says, her voice syrupy sweet. I nod, not trusting myself to speak without a hint of sarcasm.
The tent flap rustles, and Lucas strides in, his presence filling the space instantly. He makes a beeline for Ethan, greeting him with a bear hug and a hearty slap on the back. “Great job out there,” Lucas says, his voice warm with pride. “You deserve to stay home and relax for a while.”
Ethan shakes his head, a wry smile playing on his lips. “There’s too much going on to rest, Alpha.”
I can’t help but frown at his words. “You should take a break, Ethan. Relax once in a while.”
He turns to me, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Traveling relaxes me more than sitting in one place, Luna. But I appreciate the concern.”
Before I can respond, Ivy’s voice cuts through the air. “Lucas!” She greets him with a warm smile that makes my stomach churn. I grit my teeth, forcing down the surge of irritation that threatens to bubble up.
Lucas returns her greeting, his tone friendly but neutral. I watch as Ivy moves in for a hug, her arms outstretched. But Lucas smoothly sidesteps her, turning towards me as if that was his intention all along. His arm slides over my shoulders, pulling me close to his side.
The warmth of his body seeps into mine, and I can’t help but lean into him. A smile tugs at the corners of my mouth.
Stop looking so smug, Selene says.
I glance down at her, sprawled out near the wood stove, panting. You can stop radiating your own smugness, then, I retort.
Selene’s tail thumps against the ground, her canine grin unmistakable. She’s enjoying this as much as I am.
“So, what news do you bring?” Lucas asks, his attention focused on Ethan. Ivy takes the subtle rejection in stride and stands beside her mission partner.
The scout’s expression grows serious. “We’ve picked up some chatter about increased vampire activity to the south. Nothing concrete yet, but it’s concerning. Humans seem to have grown complacent since the attacks ceased, but the government is definitely keeping an eye out. They’re just downplaying it.”
Lucas’ arm tightens around me, the only outward sign of his tension.
“Any word on Blackwood?” I ask, unable to keep the tremor from my voice. Even after all this time, the thought of Renard and my father fill me with fear. I’m positive Lucas is more powerful than them combined, but—it’s hard.
Vanessa says it’s my trauma and I need to work through it, but… Well, being Luna keeps me busy, and the idea of spilling my guts to a stranger who specializes in tearing apart my every decision and motive is not appealing.
Ethan shakes his head. “Nothing new. They’re still keeping a low profile. Beta Grey is still reported to be in Westwood.”
The chill that floods the tent emanates from Lucas. For his enemy to have control of his pack lands is a neverending thorn in his side. But he doesn’t show his frustration.
“That’s not like them,” he says calmly. “There’s something going on there.”
I nod in agreement. Their silence is more unnerving than any overt threat.
From a worldwide apocalypse to sudden silence—it’s strange. And then there are the hunters, always trying to find lone supernaturals struggling in this new world. We still don’t know what they’re trying to do, but we’ve saved a few from their clutches.
“We did come across a small group of rogues,” Ivy chimes in, drawing everyone’s attention. “They seemed… off. More aggressive than usual.”
“Off how?” Lucas presses.
Ivy shrugs, her eyes darting to me for a moment before focusing back on Lucas. “It’s hard to explain. They were just… different. Wilder, somehow. We managed to avoid a confrontation, but it was close.
They were not friendly.”
“How far out was this?”
“Two days’ run. They were traveling in the opposite direction.”
The tent flap rustles again, and Lucas glances up as Kellan enters. The beta greets Ethan with a quick one-armed embrace and a hearty smack of his shoulder. “Welcome back.”
A warm smile spreads across Ethan’s face. “Good to be back, Beta.”
“I got your refugees all set up in the outer tents,” Kellan tells him. “They’ll be safe now.”
A frown tugs at the corners of my mate’s mouth. “Make sure they’re warm and comfortable,” he says unhappily. He hates having the refugees in tents, but we just don’t have the space. “And see that they have enough to eat. We can’t afford to have anyone falling ill in this weather.”
I’m already mentally cataloging our supplies and wondering if we’ll need to send out another hunting party soon. The influx of refugees has put a strain on our resources, but we’ve managed so far. Still, it’s a constant balancing act.
“I can help settle them in,” Ivy offers. My teeth clench involuntarily at her words.
Lucas’ eyes flick to me, then back to Ivy, though his eyes look over her head instead of at her face. “Ava will handle it,” he says firmly. “She’s the Luna, after all.”
I can’t help but feel a surge of satisfaction at his words, even as I notice the flash of irritation in Ivy’s eyes. It’s petty, I know, but it’s been months of subtle dig after dig, and less subtle attempts at undermining me or taking over things I’m responsible for.
It always feels good to have Lucas publicly affirm my position.
“Thanks for volunteering, Ivy,” I say, injecting as much warmth into my voice as I can muster. “But I’ve got it handled.”
Her smile doesn’t quite reach her glittering green eyes. “Of course,” she says. “Well, I should go check in on my pack mates. It’s been a long journey.”
“Good idea,” I agree, eager to be rid of her presence. “I’ll head out to the refugee tents now.”
We both exit the tent, the frigid air hitting us in an instant. Selene trots out behind me, her tail held high as she surveys our surroundings.
“So, Ava,” Ivy says as we walk, her breath forming small clouds in the cold air. “How have things been going? Running a pack this size can’t be easy.”
I paste on my brightest smile. “Things are going great, actually. We’ve had our challenges, of course, but everyone’s really come together. It’s amazing to see.”
Ivy nods, her expression unreadable. “Being Luna is hard work,” she says, her tone almost patronizing. “You know, if you ever feel overwhelmed, you can always ask for help. I’d be more than happy to lend a hand.”