Filed to story: Tangled in Moonlight Unshifted Novel by Lenaleia
He clears his throat, his eyes flicking to the mess of documents on my desk before meeting my gaze. “One of our scouts sent an update from Blackwood territory. I thought you’d want to see it immediately. It was sent to my email in urgency in a private attachment, printed, and sealed with no eyes upon the contents.”
He hands me a sealed envelope, the paper crisp beneath my fingers. I nod, setting it aside for the moment, trying not to show how hard my heart is jolting in my chest. But before I can dismiss him, he speaks again, his tone hesitant.
“Alpha, if I may… Do you really need to spend so much time and energy chasing down this girl from the Blackwood Pack? Shouldn’t we be focusing on our own pack, on the issues that directly affect us?”
Irritation hits me harder than it should. I have always refrained from dismissing sensible inquiries, because shutting down their voices is a slippery slope to despotism. Like the Blackwood Pack. And yet, I can’t help the words that come out anyway. “Are you questioning my judgment, Delta?”
LUCAS
The frost of winter thaws, giving way to the brisk air of spring. The days drag on, each moment blurring into the next as my frustration builds. Weeks have passed since that fateful night at the Lunar Gala, and still, the
Blackwood Pack’s intentions remain shrouded in mystery, even with summer peeking around the corner. My wolf paces restlessly within me, yearning for answers, for action, for her.
My obsession grows.
I slam my fist on the desk, the impact reverberating through the room. Kellan, ever the loyal beta, barely flinches. He knows better than to disturb me when I’m like this, consumed by the need to unravel the web of secrets that surrounds us.
A missive arrived last week from Alpha Blackwood, a terse notification that his beta’s daughter, Jessa Grey, would be attending the local university here in Granite City. The balls on that asshole, sending her into our territory without so much as a proper request for permission. It’s an unspoken rule among our kind, a courtesy extended to the ruling pack when an outsider plans to stay within their domain.
I can’t help but wonder if this is another ploy, another move in the twisted game that Blackwood seems intent on playing. Jessa’s presence here, so close to the heart of our pack, sets my teeth on edge. What secrets does she carry? What lies will she spin to further her alpha’s agenda?
My thoughts drift naturally to her, the girl who haunts my every waking moment. Ava. The memory of her scent, her touch, the way she surrendered to me in the gardenit’s seared into my very being. And yet, my hatred grows by the day.
I push myself away from the desk, pacing the length of my office like a caged beast. The cool air brought in by an open window does little to soothe my restless spirit. I need answers.
“Kellan,” I bark, my voice slicing through the silence. “I want eyes on Jessa Grey the moment she sets foot in Granite City. I want to know her every move, every breath she takes. And if you find even a whisper of information about her sister…”
I leave the sentence hanging, the implication clear. Kellan nods, his expression grim. He understands the gravity of the situation, the weight that rests upon our shoulders.
The silence stretches between us as I once again contemplate the possible motives behind the Blackwood Pack’s actions, like we have a thousand times. But this time, I let my mind linger on Ava.
On the garden. On that scent that I can never forget and how there was something different about it all. My mind races, trying to piece together the fragments of information we’ve gathered.
“What if they’ve developed some kind of pheromone enhancer?” I muse aloud, my eyes focused on something beyond the walls of this room. “A way to force a mate connection, to manipulate the bond between wolves.”
Kellan frowns, shaking his head. “I don’t know, Lucas. When I met Ava that night, I didn’t sense anything unusual. No hint of artificial pheromones or manipulation.”
I scoff, turning to face him. “She probably applied it in the garden, knowing I was watching her. It’s the perfect setup, don’t you see? Lure me in, make me believe there’s a connection, and then use that to gain a foothold in our pack.”
Kellan hesitates, his brow furrowed in thought. “I suppose that’s possible, but her relationship with her family seemed strained. The way they interacted, the tension between them, wasn’t faked. It didn’t feel like a united front.”
I grimace. “Exactly. And that’s why it’s even more likely. Think about it, Kellan. If Ava’s relationship with her father is rocky, she’d be even more desperate to prove herself, to earn his approval. Sacrificing herself, using her body as a tool to further their agenda… it’s exactly the kind of thing a desperate wolf would do.”
Kellan’s eyes widen. “I hadn’t considered that angle. It does make a twisted sort of sense.”
I turn away, my hands curling into fists at my sides. The thought of Ava being used in such a way, of her willing participation in this deception, fuels the rage that warms my skin.
“We need to be prepared for anything,” I growl, my voice low and dangerous. “The Blackwood Pack is up
)
to something. I won’t let them destroy everything we’ve built, everything we stand for.”
Kellan’s expression is grim. “I know. We all do. We’re behind you, Lucas. We’ll keep a close eye on Jessa, and if we find any evidence of foul play…”
“We’ll show them what happens when they try to mess with the Westwood Pack.” There’s no other option.
I turn to face the window, my gaze sweeping over the city that is mine to protect. The Blackwood Pack may be able to hold their secrets, but they have no idea who they’re dealing with. I will uncover the truth, no matter the cost.
***
A sharp knock at the door jolts me awake, scattering the papers strewn across my desk. I blink, trying to clear the fog of sleep from my mind as I realize I must have dozed off while poring over the latest reports from Granite City.
“Come in,” I call out, my voice rough.
The door swings open, revealing one of my deltas, Ryder Thorn. He enters the room, his posture stiff and his expression guarded. I can sense his unease. the way he seems to be holding back.
“What is it?” I ask, straightening in my chair. No alpha should be caught sleeping on the job.
He clears his throat, his eyes flicking to the mess of documents on my desk before meeting my gaze. “One of our scouts sent an update from Blackwood territory. I thought you’d want to see it immediately. It was sent to my email in urgency in a private attachment, printed, and sealed with no eyes upon the contents.”
He hands me a sealed envelope, the paper crisp beneath my fingers. I nod, setting it aside for the moment, trying not to show how hard my heart is jolting in my chest. But before I can dismiss him, he speaks again, his tone hesitant.
“Alpha, if I may… Do you really need to spend so much time and energy chasing down this girl from the Blackwood Pack? Shouldn’t we be focusing on our own pack, on the issues that directly affect us?”
Irritation hits me harder than it should. I have always refrained from dismissing sensible inquiries, because shutting down their voices is a slippery slope to despotism. Like the Blackwood Pack. And yet, I can’t help the words that come out anyway. “Are you questioning my judgment, Delta?”
LUCAS
His spine straightens in an instant, and his face goes. blank. “Of course not, Alpha. I only worry that this obsession with the Blackwood girl is distracting you from what really matters.”
I stand in a swift motion, my chair scraping against the floor. Inexplicable rage fans the flames of months of irritation and frustration. “What matters is the safety and security of our pack. If the alpha of Blackwood is plotting against us, if they’re using Ava as a pawn in their twisted game, then it is my duty to uncover the truth. Don’t you agree?”
He takes a step back, his head bowed in submission. “I understand, Alpha. Forgive me for overstepping.”
I take a deep breath, trying to rein in my temper. “Your concern is noted, Delta. But I need you to trust me on this. I know what I’m doing.”
He nods, his expression still blank. “Of course, Alpha. I’ll leave you to your work.”
With that, he turns and leaves the room, closing the door behind him with a soft click. I sink back into my chair, rubbing a hand over my face. The letter from the scout lies on my desk, taunting me with the promise of new information.
I close my eyes, taking a deep breath as I try to quell the maelstrom of emotions raging within me. I know I need to approach this situation with a clear head, to separate my personal feelings from the cold, hard facts. But it’s easier said than done when it comes to
Ava.
With a heavy sigh, I unfold the missive, my eyes scanning the contents. Each word is like a punch to the gut, and I feel my heart sinking lower and lower with every line. The letter shakes in my hands as I read, a cold fury seeping into my bones with every damning word
To:
From:
Subject: URGENT: For Alpha’s Eyes Only
Attachment: Report.docx
My source within the Blackwood Pack has provided crucial information regarding Ava’s circumstances. She has been enduring severe mistreatment and neglect from her own family, with Beta Alexander Grey being the primary perpetrator of cruelty. Furthermore, her mother and siblings have displayed little regard for her wellbeing, demonstrating indifference or outright disdain. Ava is consistently subjected to assault by numerous pack members and is treated as an outcast within the community.
It’s worth noting that Beta Grey’s decision to permit Ava’s attendance at college has raised eyebrows among the pack. However, rumors suggest that this allowance was motivated by a desire to remove her from his immediate vicinity. Notably, Ava has been working independently to finance her education, receiving no support from her parents.
Furthermore, it has come to our attention that Ava has been missing since the night of the Lunar Gala, where she was last seen leaving the building shortly before midnight. Surprisingly, the Blackwood Pack has made no effort to locate her or ensure her safety. It appears they have simply washed their hands of her, as if she never existed.
As troubling as these revelations are, there is more to the story. My source within the Blackwood Pack has confided in me that Ava is a wolfless shiftershe is basically human. It seems that Alpha Blackwood and his inner circle had plans to use her as a breeder to several strong males within the pack. They believed that her family’s genes would be passed down to her offspring, potentially increasing their combat power in the next generation. They do not believe her defect would be passed down. My source believes that once she proved her ability to bear children, Alpha Blackwood intended to use her to breed his next heir.
With regard to the ambitions of Alpha Blackwood, there is rumor that he wishes to create an alliance via mating with another pack, in hopes of increasing his power in the Council. It is uncertain if this alliance is friendly or with darker designs in mind. Whatever plans he has, he holds close to his vest. Jessa Grey has been seen attending Luna training, but Alpha
Blackwood has no intention of mating her.
All of this information came at a great cost. The source who provided these details was one of Alpha Blackwood’s former lovers. He has seven lovers at this time trving to breed proper alpha heirs Shortly after our meeting, my source was found dead under suspicious circumstances. I fear that my own position may be compromised, and I plan to return to the Westwood Pack as soon as possible to ensure my own safety and share any further intelligence I have gathered.
Alpha Westwood, I urge you to consider this information carefully. The Blackwood Pack’s treatment of Ava and their apparent disregard for her wellbeing raise serious concerns about the morality of their pack leadership, and what they might do to further their agenda.
I trust that you will use this knowledge wisely to protect not only Ava but also the interests of our own pack.
Your loyal scout,
Ethan Hawke
I set the letter down, my mind reeling from the implications of its contents. Ava is a wolfless shifter. My mind focused on that, remembering her delicate face behind those thickframed glasses. So, the glasses were real. She has no wolf. Probably no enhanced strength, or sight, or ability to scent the things around her.
She is our fated, my wolf insists, snarling and snapping at the air. We would normally know once her wolf appears, but she has no wolf. That is why the connection is only to one piece of her.
The revelation yanks the breath out of my lungs. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.