Filed to story: Tangled in Moonlight Unshifted Novel by Lenaleia
As the tension in my body begins to uncoil, my stomach rumbles, reminding me that I haven’t eaten properly since breakfast. With a groan, I push myself up from the floor, my limbs protesting the prolonged period of inactivity.
“Dinner time, girl,” I murmur, offering Selene a weary smile as I make my way to the kitchen.
The familiar motions of cooking are soothing, a welcome distraction from the turmoil that had consumed me earlier. I move through the motions with practiced ease, the sizzle of the pan and the aroma of sautéed vegetables filling the air with a comforting warmth.
As I work, my mind drifts back to the events of the day, replaying the hushed conversation that had sent me spiraling into a panic. The fear that had gripped me so tightly begins to loosen its hold, replaced by a steely resolve. I cannot let the threat of discovery paralyze me; I won’t go back. I am free now, and I won’t ever give that up.
A noise draws me from my reverie, and I turn to find Selene sitting in the doorway, the unmistakable glimmer of the purple crystal clenched between her jaws. A surprised laugh escapes my lips as I cross the room, reaching out to gently pry the object from her mouth. She’s obsessed with it, and I’ve had to hide it from her several times over the past few months.
“Where did you find this, you little troublemaker?” I chide, holding the crystal up to the fading light.
As my fingers curl around the smooth surface, a jolt of energy courses through me, setting my nerves alight with a tingling sensation. I gasp, nearly dropping the crystal in surprise, but something holds me transfixed, my gaze locked on the mesmerizing play of light within its depths.
And then, a voice, soft and melodic, like the purr of a contented feline, whispers through the recesses of my mind.
It’s time.
The words reverberate through my very being, sending a shiver down my spine. I whirl around, searching for the source of the voice, but the apartment is empty save for Selene, who regards me with a tilted head, as if sensing the shift in the air.
“Who’s there?” I call out, my voice wavering slightly.
But there is no response, and the crystal in my hand is now devoid of any of that energy I’d felt just a second ago.
TIMU has been contracted! Please remember to add to your library, comment, and throw gifts at me to keep me motivated.
It’s been a bit of a slow start, but there are some incredible arcs
Lenaleia
I try to slip the crystal back into the drawer of my nightstand, but Selene darts forward, her body wriggling between me and the furniture like a furry battering ram. With a huff of frustration, I pull my hand back, the crystal still clutched in my fist.”
“Selene, down,” I scold, but she remains resolutely in my path, those pale blue eyes fixed on the object in my grasp.
Realizing this is a battle I won’t win, I shove the crystal into the pocket of my jeans, ignoring the uneasy weight that seems to settle in my gut at its presence. Selene’s tail wags, and she trots back toward the kitchen, pausing every few steps to glance over her shoulder, as if ensuring I follow.
The aroma of the sautéed vegetables greets me as I reenter the kitchen, and my stomach rumbles in anticipation. But as I move to finish plating the meal, Selene darts underfoot, nearly sending me sprawling. I sidestep her clumsily, shooting her a glare.
“What has gotten into you?” I mutter, stirring the contents of the pan with perhaps more force than necessary.
Selene whines, her nose pointed toward the front. door, and understanding dawns.
“All right, all right.” I rush over to open the front door.
But Selene remains rooted to the spot, her gaze flickering between me and the door, an insistent whine escaping her. I frown as realization sets inshe wants me to come with her.
“You can’t be serious,” I groan, but her resolute stare tells me she’s dead serious. “Fine, but just a quick walk. I’m starving.”
With a sigh, I scrape the food onto a plate and shove it into the microwave, resigning myself to eating a lukewarm dinner in favor of appeasing my restless. companion.
Selene’s tail wags furiously as I clip the leash onto her collar, and she darts out the door the second it’s open wide enough, nearly yanking me off my feet. I stumble after her, the crystal in my pocket seeming to grow heavier with every step.
The crisp evening air is a welcome relief after the stuffy confines of the apartment, and I find myself falling into an easy rhythm, my earlier unease fading into the background. Selene trots ahead, her nose twitching as she investigates every nook and cranny, but her path seems guided by some unseen force.
I should protest, should insist we turn back before we venture too far from home, but some inexplicable force holds my tongue. Instead, I let Selene lead, trusting in the bond we’ve forged over these past few months.
Half an hour later, I’m feeling extreme regret. We’ve made it to a nearby park, which is essentially a trail going through a small bit of city forest. My food is cold at home, and we have at least a half hour of walking to get back home. I’m hungry and worn out from the day, and I keep looking around like someone’s about to pop out of the shadows to kidnap me.
“Selene, we need to go home. I’m starving.” I tug at her leash, but she ignores it. “Selene. Come on. Now!” I tug harder and try to start walking in the opposite direction.
She almost yanks me off my feet, and I stumble, barely catching myself before I fall. “You’ve gotta be kidding me.” I sigh. Selene’s not usually one for these kinds of shenanigans. “Okay. Okay! I get it, you aren’t done.”
She hasn’t gone potty once. Maybe she needs to walk longer.
I follow Selene’s lead as she veers off the trail and into the shadowed treeline, the crunch of fallen leaves and twigs beneath my boots echoing in the stillness. A shiver skitters down my spine. I can’t help but touch the crystal in my pocket, gleaning a little sense of security when I touch it.
Moonlight filters through the canopy in dappled streaks, casting an eerie glow over our path. Selene forges ahead, her movements purposeful, almost urgent. I tighten my grip on the leash, my heart. thrumming a staccato rhythm against my ribcage.
This isn’t like her. Selene has always been a relatively wellbehaved companion, her antics limited to the occasional bout of mischief around the apartment. But this? This singleminded determination to lead me deeper into the shadows feels different. Foreboding.
A bead of sweat trickles down the nape of my neck as the air seems to thicken around us, the scent of damp earth and decaying foliage taking on an almost cloying quality. My pulse quickens, each breath growing shallower as an unfamiliar heat blossoms deep in my abdomen.
What is happening to me?
Selene pauses, her nose twitching as she scents the air, and I take the opportunity to glance around, trying to get my bearings. But the trees seem to blur together, an endless maze of bark and branches that offers no clear path of escape.
A tremor wracks my frame, my fingers clenching spasmodically around the leash as a wave of dizziness washes over me. The world tilts precariously, the shadows lengthening and distorting until they seem to reach out with gnarled tendrils, seeking to ensnare me.
I squeeze my eyes shut, fighting against the disorientation, but it does little to quell the roiling in the pit of my stomach. Something is happening- something I can’t begin to comprehend. But every fiber of my being screams that something’s wrong.
A low whine from Selene breaks through the haze, and
I force my eyes open, blinking rapidly to clear the spots from my vision. She stands before me, her pale gaze locked on mine, and in that moment, I see a flicker of somethinga spark of recognition, of understanding.
She knows.
The realization is like a punch to the gut, stealing what little breath remains in my lungs. Selene has been trying to tell me all along, and I’ve been too blind, too stubborn to listen.
The crystal seems to pulse in my pocket, its weight. now a tangible thing, a tether binding me to this moment, this path I’ve been set upon.
Selene steps closer, her nose touching mine, cold and wet. Then, a whisper in my mind. Hello, my human. I’m so glad you’re finally listening.
*0
I stare at Selene in shock, emotions roiling within me like a sea at storm. Searing heat flushes my skin, beads of sweat forming along my hairline. My legs tremble, the world tilting precariously, and I clutch at Selene’s fur, her solid presence the only thing anchoring me.
“Are you…” I swallow thickly, the words catching in my throat. “Are you my wolf?”
The question seems absurd even as it leaves my lips, defying all logic and reason. And yet, as Selene preens, her gaze gleaming with an intelligence that transcends any mere dog, a hysterical giggle bubbles up from deep within me.
“My wolf is a husky,” I wheeze between breathless peals of laughter. “How does this even happen?”
Selene’s ears flatten against her skull, and she emits a low growl, her displeasure rippling through our newfound connection like a physical force. I am not a husky, her voice echoes in my mind, resolute and unyielding.
The laughter dies on my lips as abruptly as it began, and I gape at her, struggling to reconcile the reality before me. “But… you look like one.”
Appearances can be deceiving, my human. There’s a hint of amusement in her tone now, as if she’s enjoying my bewilderment. I am a wolf, through and through. This form is merely a vessel, a guise to help me blend in among your kind.
My brow furrows as I study her. Nope. Still a husky.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” The words come out harsher than I intend, tinged with a hint of accusation. If my wolf had appeared, my life wouldn’t have been so terrible. And maybe, at the Gala, I wouldn’t have been
No. No point thinking over things that have already happened.
Though I can’t help glaring at my dog in accusation.
Selene regards me steadily, her eyes ancient and inscrutable. You were not ready, she says simply. Your path has been a winding one, filled with obstacles and pain. But you were young, and they had too much power over you.
I suck in a sharp breath. her words striking a chord deep within me. The weight of my pastthe isolation, the rejection, the constant struggle to find my place- presses down upon me, and I sag against her, suddenly exhausted.
Selene nuzzles my cheek, her warmth enveloping me like a comforting embrace. Now, you can embrace your destiny, she murmurs. You have learned that you are strong, but you are more than you know, my human. And I will be by your side every step of the way, guiding you toward the path you were always meant to walk.
I pat her fur, feeling the connection between us, marveling at its existence. I realize now that it’s what’s been helping me get through it all. I can even feel how it’s a wall sheltering me from the pain of rejection. But more importantly-
“Selene,” I whimper, as pain shoots through my abdomen. I’m on fire. “Why does this hurt?”
Strength comes with a roar, and weakness comes with a whimper, Selene says, like that means anything at all.
“That doesn’t explain anything,” I wheeze between the worst cramps I’ve ever felt in my life.
Selene stands and trots away a few paces, looking behind her. Get up, little cub. We have a long way to go.
I groan. “Are you serious right now? I can’t move. I’m just going to die here for a little while. Why’d you take me so far from home?”