Filed to story: Tangled in Moonlight Unshifted Novel by Lenaleia
Anger will only lead to misstep. There’s no more leeway for mistakes and second chances.
Too many wolves rely on me for their safety, their futures.
“What do you think?” Kellan asks, his voice so soft not even the wolves near us would be able to decipher his words.
We need to talk to Ava. Connect with her Sister Miriam. The connection I share with my beta is tight, so no others can interfere or listen in.
He nods, knowing how much this decision galls me.
Every part of me rebels against the idea of establishing any sort of connection with those bloodsucking monsters, but we’re operating too blind, and the s
This isn’t a time to wait around for the scraps any spies might bring us.
We can’t keep getting jerked around.
Opening my eyes again, I square my shoulders e lace my wolves. They’re looking to me for guidance now more than ever before. And I won’t let them down.
“is everyone accounted for?”
Two are still missing.” Ryder reports, ever the responsible delta as he strides toward me. “I’ve already updated Vester at Blackwood, and they’re on full a
There’s no warmth or solace in the intense heat radiating from the funeral mounds, made of hay and dried wood, to burn through the night.
My mind is reeling, grasping for answers that refuse to come.
How did this happen? How did we let ourselves become so vulnerable? So exposed? The questions gnaw at me, bringing no answers, only confusion.
“Keep guards on the pyres. Make sure the ground stays wet. We don’t need a forest fire on top of this shit.”
Ryder salutes in acknowledgement before loping away, presumably to gather his wolves for the night watch.
“And Ava? Is she still okay?”
Kellan’s eyes lose focus for a moment. “She’s fine. There was some incident with th guards in her roomshe’s fine, so calm down, Alpha and they replaced the guards around her. It’s probably inst sour feelings. There’s a lot of that among them tonight. People weren’t thrilled to hear our future Luna wouldn’t be at the rites. Especially after…”
When my hand raises to cut him off, he stops immediately, looking almost apologetic.
Ava has few supporters in my pack there have been rumors and whispers going around since the evening of the party.
Keeping things quiet is always impossible in a pack of this size. Between the mind links and our social nature, it’s almost guaranteed for a secret to fly fa
“Under no circumstances is she to have a dissenter in her guards. Make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
“Of course, Alpha.”
I turn away, my mind already racing with the next steps we need to take, when Kellan’s voice cuts through my thoughts like a knife.
“Shit.”
The word is sharp, laced with an undercurrent of fear that sends a chill down my spine. I spin back around, my eyes locking onto his, searching for an ex
A vampire was in Ava’s room. His mental voice is strained, the words tumbling out in a rush. It’s gone now, and she’s unharmed, but fuck, Lucas. A vamp
Every muscle in my body tenses, ready to sprint towards the lodge, to tear apart anythin hat dares to threaten my mate. But Kellan’s next words soothe t
Jericho’s already on the premises. He’s checking it out now.
1 take a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm, to think rationally. Jericho is a former beta, one of the men I most respect in this world. He’s been there since I was a pup, and I can trust him to keep her safe.
If anyone can handle this situation, it’s him.
“You’re lucky your dad is here to save your ass,” I mutter, the words coming out harsher than I intend. A gentle smack to his shoulder as we fall in line helps brush over the flare of temper.
Kellan’s mental chuckle is grim, devoid of any real humor. “No shit.”
Since neither shifter seems very interested in talking, I sit with only my thoughts for company.
Even Selene is silent in my head, though she rests her chin on my leg, her eyes deceptively closed.
She’s not asleep, but still dealing with whatever demons are inside of her right now.
Both guards tense as Selene’s ears flick around.
Someone’s coming, she says, lifting her head to stare at the door. When both guards relax after that distracted look from them linking with someone
Jericho, she says, as the door opens and his grizzled head pokes into the room.
Jericho glances around, looking at both guards with clear contempt, before nodding to me. “Girl,” he says gruffly.
in
My lips twitch into a faint smile, an unexpected warmth blooming my chest at his informal address. At least one thing hasn’t changed. He still treats me the same, even after everything that’s happened.
“Wait outside,” Jericho orders the two illat ease shifters, jerking his head toward the door. They hesitate for a moment, exchanging an uncertain look, but a single raised eyebrow from Jericho
The door closes with a soft click, and Jerich
Jes
Acceptanés back to me. “How’re you doing? Feeling okay?”
I open my mouth, ready to assure him that I’m fine, but the words lodge in my throat. Am I okay? After the riot, Todd’s mother, the vampire attack, and all the little truths Vanessa has managed to open my eyes to… I don’t think I am.
But complaining about it doesn’t seem right, either.
Jericho seems to sense my inner turmoil. He sighs, running a hand over his stubbled jaw. “Listen, girl, all young pups make mistakes. It’s part of gro
“Young pup?” The term catches me off guard. I haven’t been called that since I was a child.
Maybe a few times, but I don’t really remember them.
A wry smile tugs at the corner of Jericho’s mouth. “You’re still young, a baby in my eyes. I’ve been around long enough to see countless pups stumble and fall. Done it m
“Yourself?” It’s hard to imagine him, a grizzled old man of little praise and a lot of torture, making mistakes as a child.
It’s hard to imagine he even had a childhood.
In my head, he just appeared in this world one day, old and cantankerous, yelling at innocent outof shape wolf shifters until they run out of sheer terror.
“You need to manage your expectations,” Jericho continues, his gaze intense. “But I like the look in your eyes now. You seem like you’ve gotten a litt
Stronger? His assessment comes as a surprise Idaue stronger. In fact, I feel embarrassed by how strong I thought I was not so long ago.
Blinded by peace.
“I really need to go back to training” I mutter, rubbing Selene’s head. She’s already lowered her head and closed her eyes again, leaving me to Jeric
Jericho’s eyebrows raise a fraction. “Are you an idiot? Muddleheaded sheepdog, maybe?”
Rude. But I don’t have the energy to rise to his bait. “What do you mean by that?”
Answering with nothing but a curt grunt, he instead takes the opportunity to pace my room in short, slow strides. It takes a little time for me to realize
“Nothing,” he says, sounding surprised. “Not even a hint.”
“Of what?”
“The vampire.” Turning, he gazes at me, his face stern. “Explain what happened. Leave nothing out.
Explaining everything to his grizzled face is somehow easier than I thought it would be.
Maybe it’s because it never changes, never shows its judgment.