Filed to story: Tangled in Moonlight Unshifted Novel by Lenaleia
It isn’t that I’m unhappy—shockingly, I’m pretty okay, outside of wanting to find my parents—but that I feel lost.
No one really knows what to do with me. Which is fair, because I don’t know what to do with myself. I’m starting to understand why Ava had such a hard time standing on her own two feet and growing a sense of self-worth; it’s like floating in a sea on a piece of driftwood while everyone else plays happy dolphin family.
Does that make sense? Maybe it doesn’t.
I’ve made a few friends, but it’s all surface-level. It’s not like before, which is probably because I’m now known as the beta’s mate. They all treat me a little differently now, which is why it’s so nice to have Mira with us today. A little bit of normal interaction in this crazy mess of a new life.
I’ll get it figured out. I know I will.
In a good mood, well-fed, and with the sun rising high to help a little with the frigid temperatures, we stroll arm-in-arm behind the other wolves, who help Kellan drag along the sled of moose meat.
Technically, I know he doesn’t need that much help and could bring the moose back himself. He’s strong enough. But there always has to be an extra bunch of wolves around to keep me safe.
After being kidnapped by a crazy vampire, I have no problem with this idea. I just feel bad for the guys watching over me. They’re probably bored.
Then again, they get to see the weird shit the Grand Sage makes me do, so at least it’s entertaining. Maybe.
But then my mind wanders to my captivity, and how people seem to think I’ve been through more trauma than I did. It was terrible, yes. But I only saw the crazy vampire once. Now that I’m free, it honestly kind of feels like I got off pretty lightly.
Shouldn’t everything have been… I don’t know. More traumatic? Maybe a couple missing limbs or something? I’ve read enough books and movies to know I’m lucky not to be dead right now. Or creepily mind-enslaved like Marisol…
“Something’s wrong.” Mira’s mutter distracts me from my random introspection, her arm tense against mine.
The shifters ahead of us freeze mid-step. Even from behind, I notice their bodies are as rigid as stone.
Kellan slows to a complete stop, glancing around.
“What’s happening?” My hand slides to my wrist brace, cold against my skin, hidden beneath a few layers of clothing. It won’t be easy to access, but just knowing it’s there makes me feel a little more secure if something suddenly comes charging at us.
Unless it’s some giant monster eel that swims in snow, though, I don’t know what we’re looking for.
Mira shakes her head, her dark eyes scanning the trees. She doesn’t know either. Of course. She’s not part of whatever mind-talking they’re doing. She’s from another pack.
Kellan’s head snaps up, and a low growl rumbles from his chest. Whatever message he received through that supernatural connection can’t be good.
The other wolves move into a defensive formation around us without a word. My heart pounds against my ribs as I recognize their practiced movements. This isn’t just caution—this is preparation for trouble.
“Stay close to me,” Mira whispers, pulling me tight against her side. She knows it, too.
The silence in the forest feels different now. What I’d thought was peaceful winter stillness now seems charged with tension, like the air before a storm. Even the wind through the pines sounds ominous.
My hands shake slightly as I wait for someone to explain what’s happening.
The crunch of snow under paw becomes the only sound as the other wolves shift forms. Their clothes litter the ground around the sled as they take up positions in a wider circle. Only Kellan and Mira remain human.
A branch snaps somewhere in the distance. I jump, but Mira’s grip on my arm keeps me steady.
“Kellan?” I hate how small my voice sounds, but damn it, I’m fucking terrified now, and no one’s telling us what’s going on. “What is it?”
He doesn’t answer immediately, still locked in whatever silent communication is happening through the pack link. His jaw clenches as he scans the sparse trees in the area.
But there’s nothing there.
I know I’m just human, but there’s nothing out there. It’s all snow. A few trees here and there. Some hills I guess someone could be hiding behind? But we can see everywhere.
The silence stretches, broken only by the soft padding of wolf paws in snow as our guards adjust their positions. I want to ask more questions, but if Kellan isn’t talking, it has to be for a good reason. Maybe he’s still listening to someone else.
Mira’s sharply indrawn breath has me looking at her face, then following her gaze to something moving in the snow.
Dark specks, quickly growing larger, coming down one of the small hills I’d mentioned.
The wind is coming from their direction, so it makes no sense when Mira whispers, “I can’t smell them.”
That… can’t be good.
They have contact.
Selene’s words have my heart dropping down to my half-frozen toes.
“How far are we now?”
Too far.
If it weren’t for the gloves keeping my hands warm, my nails would be cutting through the skin of my palms. “We need to hurry.”
My words are ripped away by the wind, but Selene knows what I’m saying, and I know she’s relaying my words to the wolves.
Ten wolves. How many were with Lisa today? I think it might have been five. Outnumbered not only two to one, but one of ours is human.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
“Grimoire, is there anything we can do?”
I know there isn’t, but I have to ask. It’s Lisa, for God’s sake.
You aren’t sensitive enough to pick up the enemy. What do you expect?
His words sound harsh. Cold. Like judgment’s already been made, finding me lacking. But I know it’s his own frustration bleeding through.
“Is there anything you can do?”
I’ve learned things about our bond. Little trickles of information over time. Like, Grimoire’s constrained by some basic laws in this world. He can’t just utilize his magic and become a God among men, for example. That’s why he was locked away for so long.
He’s bound to his book and whatever rules were created at the time—things he hasn’t deemed necessary to share.
But beyond that, he’s limited by our bond. While he’s able to use some of his magic through me, it’s only as much as my body can handle. And while he can somewhat take over my magical control, or even boost it, it’s all within the boundaries of what I would—theoretically—be capable of.
They’re all nebulous rules for someone like me, who doesn’t fully understand them. Maybe Magister Orion would know more; as thrilled as I am to be reunited with Lucas, I’m frustrated by my lack of support here. Grimoire’s knowledge is wonderful and helpful, and I’ve learned a lot.
But ultimately, he isn’t mortal.
He thinks of things in different ways than we do. Sees things in different ways. Feels things in different ways.
It’s like a language barrier between us sometimes.
Grimoire stays silent after my question, probably thinking it over. There are ways for him to surpass his limitations to a small extent—something he did the day the vampires came to Wolf’s Landing. But they came with great cost. To me, and to him, apparently.
I still don’t know exactly what he lost in the transaction, but I do know it wasn’t insignificant.
The exhaustion I suffered afterward was not insignificant, either. And while my magical affinity was boosted, it was forced in a strange way, taking a while to adjust.
The distance is too great, little witch. Even if I could see them, my magic would be too diluted by the time it reached them.
A groan tears from my throat as I duck my head between my knees. The blanket offers some protection from the relentless wind, but my cheeks and nose still burn from exposure. My heart hammers against my ribs. Each beat is a reminder of how far we are from Lisa.
The sled jerks beneath me as we hit a rough patch. Marcus and Greg maintain their brutal pace, their massive wolf forms cutting through the snow like ships through water. Steam rises from their fur in great clouds that dissipate instantly in the frigid air.
It’s a small thing, but I’ve managed to cast a warm barrier over them all. It’s not a lot and something I wish I’d thought of earlier, but it helps melt the snow they come into contact with.
I don’t recommend trying to touch them, either, but that’s a separate issue.
“What about the taint? Has anything changed?” I can barely feel it at this point.
Nothing distinct.
“Selene, any updates?”
They’re fighting.
My stomach lurches. “Who’s winning?”
I cannot tell. The connection is… strange. Like static.