Filed to story: Tangled in Moonlight Unshifted Novel by Lenaleia
He sounds tired.
That makes sense. He’s been working overtime, watching over his alpha’s failure of a mate while trying to find his own.
While complaining about him always being around, how often have I considered how much time and effort he’s put into keeping us safe, even while running the pack in Lucas’ absence?
I’ve known about it. But have I really thought about it?
Thanked him, even when he’s heard Lisa and me groaning in the other room about our lack of autonomy?
Considered how awful his job was, babysitting two ungrateful women?
It’s crazy how a few words from Vanessa can change how memories feel in my head.
There’s something bitter and sour eating through my stomach as memories fly through my mind, like viewing my own actions on a movie screen.
Selene, for her part, stays quiet, wrestling with demons of her own.
If I hid things from you, how would you feel? I ask Selene as I continue watching the sunset.
Her silence goes on for so long that I’m no longer waiting for her response when she says something. If I found out after you did what you needed to do, and you had succeeded, I would have been proud of you for succeeding.
She sounds puzzled and hesitant. Things I would have never associated with Selene before.
It wouldn’t hurt you?
No. Why should it? You succeeded in your goal. I don’t see the problem.
A hint of frustration tinges her mental voice.
You’ve told me before that a relationship can’t be built on lies.
She’s silent again, before murmuring, Trust is vital, yes. And it does not yet exist between the two of you as mates. But once you trust each other, shouldn’t you be able to understand why the secret was kept in the first place?
Her words are legitimately bewildered, and I can see it now.
There it is.
The divide between us.
That Selene is not human talk Vanessa gave me is sinking in.
If Vanessa was here, I’d love to talk to her.
Unfortunately, she’s not. We’re on a plane, and she’s still in Blackwood, plotting on how to force answers out of my mom’s wolf.
So I look at Kellan..
“If your mate kept secrets from you, even if it’s for the best of reasons, in order to accomplish a goalhow would you react?”
“Furious.” His answer is swift, and his eyes suspicious. “What are you up to now, Ava?”
“Nothing. Shame twists my gut as I turn back to the window. His immediate reaction is to think I’m up to something, bringing trouble to those around me.
It’s not like I blame him, but the feeling I’m left with is…
Sticky. Gross. Awful.
A few days ago, I would have chafed at such a response, frustrated over Kellan treating me like an errant child.
But now?
His uneasy stare bores into the back of my head, and I rest my head against the window with a sigh. “Do you ever argue with your wolf?
“Not anymore. I used to. Why, are you having problems with yours?
My head snaps around faster than should be possible. “What do you mean, mine? I don’t have a-
“Yeah, yeah,” Kellan leans back, closing his eyes. “You don’t have a wolf. But I’ve seen that look on your face a thousand times. We’re all shifters, Ava.”
I can’t help it; I touch my cheeks in confusion. “What look?”
Cracking open one eye, Kellan looks exasperated. “The look. Talking to her. You do it when you think we aren’t watching, and half the time you do it out
Shit. Really?
“Why didn’t you tell Lucas?”
“Some things don’t need to be reported.” He rolls his shoulders, trying to get comfortable. “Some things are yours to tell. And I had no proof of my suspic
Double shit. I’d confirmed his guess. He was bluffing.
Smart, Selene says in approval, the first real glimmer of energy I’ve seen since Vanessa spoke with us.
“That’s top secret information,” I whisper, and he makes a vague circular motion with his hand.
“All human, all of them listening to that godawful movie they put on. You’re fine.”
Somewhat mollified, settle back into my seat, distracted from my darker thoughts by this new surprise. Overall, I’m relieved. I won’t have to hide Selene’s
“So, what’s the secret?”
Kellan’s voice comes out of nowhere after another long period of silence, and I blink at him in surprise.
“What secret?”
“The one you’re hiding from your mate,” he says impatiently. “You asked how I would feel-“
“Oh. That. No, that was just theoretical.”
“Ava…”
He doesn’t believe me, and I sigh. “Vanessa sat me down for a wolves and the babes discussion this morning.”
“Wolves and the babes? Didn’t you learn that atoh.” Understanding dawns on his face. “You didn’t have a wolf.”
Giving a one shoulder shrug, I just say, “Bingo.”
Kellan glances at Selene, who’s peering at him from beneath the seat. I don’t know if he understands that she’s my wolf, but I don’t feel like verifying tha
Later, in private.
Relaxing now, he sighs. “When we’re young, we fight with our wolves a lot. They’re more instinctual than we are. Fighting over perceived insults, tussles sometimes.”
“I see.” That doesn’t help my situation. Selene isn’t really bloodthirsty.
Am I not?
1 remember Lucas hated his wolf for a while. Said he was sick of hearing about dominance and getting into fights just because someone looked at him the wrong way. Guess it’s harder with an alpha wolf.”
A faint smile plays around his mouth, and Kellan’s face is more relaxed than I’ve seen it since the party. The massacre. Lisa’s kidnapping.
“One time, his wolf even convinced him he’d be better off running. away and starting a new pack. Of course, we don’t really do that kind of thing when we
“What did he do?”
“Oh, he ran off. Took me and a few of our friends with him. We camped in the forest as wolves and were ready to start life as rogues.”
Fascinated despite the cycle of negative thoughts in my head, I turn a little more in my chair, pulling a leg up beneath me to get comfortable. “And? Wha
Kellan grins openly now, opening his eyes to meet mine. “It rained. We found out that we could either eat raw meat or starve for the night.”
That doesn’t sound so unusual.