Filed to story: Tangled in Moonlight Unshifted Novel by Lenaleia
His expression shifts, a subtle tightening around his eyes. “You suspect possession.”
“Is it possible?” Heat rises to my face. “Could the dream-eater have taken over her body?” It’s a fantastical question, especially once the dream-eater showed a form that doesn’t look anything like Ivy. But she’s still missing, and there’s no other conclusion I can come to.
Magister Orion’s gaze returns to the creature. His massive frame seems to grow still, like a statue carved from ancient stone. “Yes.”
His answer is expected, but still horrifying. My stomach churns. “How?”
“That, I cannot determine.” He gestures to the dream-eater. “These creatures do not possess in the way you are thinking; they leave no trace of their victims. They consume the essence, the memories, everything that makes a person who they are.”
“So Ivy is—” The words stick in my throat. It’s hard to imagine such a strange death.
“Gone.” He speaks gently. “And possibly for quite some time. The signs would have been subtle. The dream-eater did not take her body, but stole her form. If you wolves did not scent the difference…”
My hands shake; this creature was walking among us, wearing her face. Her voice. Even her scent. “No.”
“The dream-eater would easily learned her mannerisms, her relationships.” Magister Orion sighs. “They know everything.”
“Ready to head out?” Kellan’s voice breaks through the conversation as he opens the door.
The Magister waves his hand at me. “Go. Rest. I can feel your exhaustion.”
Sighing, I push myself off the floor. “I’m ready. Could you call Vanessa to meet us at your cabin? I need to speak with her. And you.”
His eyes glaze over for a second. “Done. She’s on her way.”
* * *
Vanessa takes the news better than I did, and she admits she suspected much of the same. We both wonder how long Ivy’s been gone, but it’s impossible to know.
My head throbs as I rest it on my arms, the solid wood of Kellan’s kitchen table offering little comfort. The scent of coffee fills the air—rich, bitter, and mildly nauseating, like the thoughts swirling in my mind. Lisa’s quiet sips from the couch punctuate the heavy silence.
“I need to tell Clayton about Ivy.” The words are dirt in my mouth. “If Lucas doesn’t make it back soon…”
“I’ll do it.” Kellan’s voice carries that stern Beta authority, probably because the other party is Clayton, of all people.
“No.” I lift my head, meeting his steely gaze. “It has to come from me. It would be disrespectful…” My voice trails off. The memory of Ivy confiding in me at the hospital… Was that real? Or was it the dream-eater, playing at being her?
“Gods, how does Lucas do this? How does he handle it?”
Vanessa’s clothes rustle as she shifts in her chair. Dark circles ring her eyes, testament to the chaos of the day. “You’re doing fine, Ava. It’s always rough the first time.”
She sounds so matter-of-fact, but it makes sense when she faces death so regularly. I don’t wish I had her experience, but I do wish I could compartmentalize like she does.
“How many?” I ask, deciding to shelve the Ivy issue for now. My brain can’t handle it anymore. Though, this subject isn’t any better. “How many did we lose today?”
The silence stretches. Vanessa’s shoulders slump further. “Twenty-seven confirmed. Three more are critical. The others… should pull through, at least.”
Twenty-seven.
My heart aches.
“I need to meet with their families.” My fingers trace invisible patterns on the table’s surface. “The rites… we’ll need to prepare everything.” All things Lucas would do, but he isn’t here right now. “Kellan, help me with a list of what needs to be done.”
The words sound hollow, inadequate against the weight of what they represent. But it’s my duty now. My responsibility.
“Yes, Luna.”
Lisa leans forward from her place on the couch. “Ava, are you okay? You look pale.”
My lips curve into what must be the weakest smile ever attempted. “I’m fine.”
“You’re not.” Lisa sets her coffee mug down with a soft clink. “But I get it. Just… let me help? With anything. Even if it’s just fetching coffee or organizing papers or whatever.”
“I know.” The gratitude in my chest wars with the exhaustion. Lisa’s always been there, even before all this supernatural chaos invaded our lives. “Thank you.”
Vanessa’s warm hand covers mine, her touch gentle despite the calluses earned from years of healing work. “Kellan can handle most of this, Ava. You should try to get some sleep. Even an hour would help.”
“No.” I pull my hand back, straightening in my chair. “These families deserve to hear it from their Luna. They need to know their losses matter to us—to me.”
Twenty-seven faces I’ll never see again. Twenty-seven families waiting for news. Twenty-seven holes torn in our pack that we’ll never truly fill.
God. Twenty-seven… and it could have been worse.
You need rest. Selene’s voice echoes in my mind, her presence a cool whisper against my consciousness. There’s something strained in her words, but I’m too tired to push.
“Just one hour,” Vanessa insists. “Maybe by then the Grand Sage will have the watches fixed, and we can reach Lucas.”
I hesitate.
You have worn yourself out, Grimoire agrees. Just take a moment for yourself. It will help.
LISA
Watching Ava struggle with the aftermath of the strange attack leaves me humbled. It feels like she’s been growing all this time, while I’ve been sitting stagnant. Even my relationship with Kellan…
My gaze drifts to Kellan’s broad shoulders. The gentle way he touches me, the way he watches my every step—it’s a consideration he shows me. Every. Single. Day.
A knot forms in my throat.
The mate bond between us is something I can feel now, like an extra heartbeat in my chest, but I keep that door sealed tight. Sometimes I catch him watching me with those storm-gray eyes, waiting for me to let him in. To trust him. To love him back the way he loves me.
The memory of cold hands on my skin makes me shiver. Sharp fangs. Blood. Pain. Memories I thought I was over, but keep intruding of late.
No, nope. Not today, Satan. Focus on Ava.
I push away from the wall and cross the room. “Hey.” My arms wrap around her thin frame. She feels as though she’s lost ten pounds in one day; magic seems to take a lot out of her. “You need to sleep for at least an hour. Non-negotiable.”
“Lisa—“
“Nope. Doctor’s orders.”
Her lip twitches. “You’re not a doctor.”
“Hey, I’ve watched enough Grey’s Anatomy to qualify.” The joke falls flat, but at least she cracks a weak smile. “One hour. That’s all I’m asking. The families will still be here when you wake up. Go now, before I get mean about it.”
“Okay,” she agrees easily enough, a sure sign she’s exhausted.
Vanessa’s eyebrow lifts. “Impressive.”
“Kellan, can you take her to her cabin?” My fingers twist in the hem of my sweater. “Make sure she actually sleeps?”
“On it.” Kellan guides Ava toward the door over her protests, where she keeps saying she isn’t going to do anything and doesn’t need a babysitter. The room falls quiet as their footsteps fade.
Vanessa stands, adjusts her scrubs, and heads for the door. Her hand pauses on the handle. “Lisa?”
“Hmm?”
“Is there something wrong with your leg?”
My heart skips a beat for some reason. “What?”
“You keep rubbing your thigh.” Vanessa’s dark eyes fix on my leg. “I’ve noticed it the past few days.”
I glance down. Sure enough, my palm presses against my thigh, right over the spot where fangs once pierced flesh. The phantom sensation of teeth breaking skin sends ice through my veins. The memory burns, itches, demands attention.
Nope, not going down that hellscape of memories. I’m stronger now. Different. Recovered and normal now.
I snatch my hand away. “Just a bad habit with an old wound. How are you doing? You look exhausted.” Looking her over, I add, “You probably need the rest as much as Ava does.”
Vanessa’s eyes narrow as she studies my face, her lips pursed, but she lets it go to say, “I’ve had worse shifts. It comes with the job”
The dark circles under her eyes and the slight tremor in her hands tell a different story. “When’s the last time you actually slept?”