Filed to story: Tangled in Moonlight Unshifted Novel by Lenaleia
Don’t be angry with me.
Her soft mental whisper brings frustrated tears to my eyes,
“Selene, I won’t be angry with you. Just come out here and talk to me.”
I’m on my hands and knees, trying to coax her out from beneath the bed, when the guard knocks again and pecks his head in. “Ma’am, it’s been twenty
“Okaouch.”
The back of my head slams agains e frame when I try to get up too fast, and I curse as the pain flares, strong enough to make my belly roll. “Fuck. Shit. God damn it.”
I’m sorry.
“It’s not your fault. Fuck.” Rubbing the back of my head, I scowl in the direction of the guard, even though it isn’t his fault, either.
“Come in.”
“Do you need more time…?”
It’s the first time a human expression has really crossed Marcus’ face since he’s been here. There’s a faint quirk at the corner of his. lips, and his brows a
“It’s fine,” I snap, and I swear a snort comes out of him.
But he closes the door behind him and takes up his position by the window once again, otherwise unfazed by the sight of me trying to coax my wolf/husky out from beneath the bed.
“Selene, I’m going to let you sulk, but I hope you’re over it by the time Vanessa gets here. We have a lot to do.”
I’ll do what I have to.
That isn’t much of a promise, but I take it anyway, leaving her beneath the bed to mope with a sigh. I guess this is how everyone else felt when I was bem
It’s frustrating.
And embarrassing to look back on.
Trying to shake off those thoughts, I snatch the necklace off the floor and toss it into a drawer, slamming it shut with finality, even as I wonder…
Who the hell is this supposed teacher of mine?
Vanessa’s visit is a welcome distraction from Selene’s refusal to come out from beneath the bed.
She’s searched thoroughly, even her bag of medical supplies, before Marcus allows her to step foot into my room, as if she hasn’t been one of my bigge
“Looks like security’s been upgraded,” she says with a laugh. “I owe Vester dinner.”
“Dinner?” Watching as she slides the blood pressure cuff over my arm, I smile faintly. “Did you guys have a bet?”
“We always have a bet going. I usually win. Uncross your legs and relax your arms.”
A quick check of all my vitals has her nodding in approval. “Still doing good. Did you get any checkups done while you were back on pack lands?”
“Nope.”
“Of course you didn’t.” She snaps my file closed with a sigh. “Kellan should have thought about it while you were there, but with. everything going on… M
The entire pack is in an uproar. I’ve barely seen Lucas in two days.
“They have the entire Council coming. Even Clayton. Kellan’s here to take over for the duration of their emergency session,” I explain, not sure how much Vester’s told her.
“So I’ve heard. Open your mouth.” Using her tongue depressor to clear her field of view, she inspects the back of my throat with a soft hum. “Your tonsils
“I have no idea.” Of course, my mouth is open with what looks like a popsicle stick holding down my tongue, so it comes out more like, “Ahaho ihea.”
Yes, Selene offers up from her place beneath the bed, as Vanessa finishes violating my mouth with her ressor.
After swallowing a few times and moistening my mouth, I mutter, “Selene says yes.”
“We’ll keep an eye on it. Hopefully you aren’t about to come down with a cold or anything.” There’s a dubious note to Vanessa’s voice, and I remember th
They don’t get things like colds. Or illness in general.
Injuryrelated issues, sure.
Or poisons.
Which begs the question once again, why are all of my bodyguards supposedly ‘retired”? An aging shifter is not the same as an aging human.
I wonder if Vanessa knows.
“Vanessa-“
“Hold on, let me finish.” Her cool fingers brush against my neck, tapping and pressing4n spots that only make sense to her. Then she checks over all my breath or stop jiggling your leg.
“You seem to be back to your normal self, which is great news for Jericho. He wants you to start training again tomorrow.”
Despite my new resolve to become more mature, responsible, and (above all) stronger, a groan escapes me. “Really?”
It would be a lie to say that there isn’t a part of me that wishes. power would just appear in front of m nd embrace me within it, so I don’t have to go throu
But as convenient as that would be. I’m not stupid enough to think it actually happens to people, so I straighten my slumped shoulders, clear my throat, like poise as I can muster. “I mean, that sounds great.”
“Yes, I’m sure it does. Don’t push yourself too hard. I warned him to take it easy on you to start.”
“Small blessings.”
She laughs as she packs everything away. “You’re the one who told him you wanted to get stronger. I’m not sure what you were expecting.”
“I know, I know. I do want to get stronger. It’s just that Jericho’s version of training is a circle of Hell that’s better left undisturbed.” Watching her brings a cozy sort of comfort to my chest. Something deeper than a healertopatient relationship.
It’s unfamiliar, but it’s nice.
“Hey, Vanessa?” My fingers twist around each other, a nervous habit I can’t seem to break. “Have you figured out how to deal with my mother?”
The playful smile slips from Vanessa’s face, replaced by a serious expression to match the topic at hand. “I have.” She zips her medical bag closed and
My mouth dries faster than the S. ra in summer. The idea of facing my mother again, after our last disastrous encounter, sends an Arctic shudder down m
Vanessa’s lips twitch, a glimmer of amusement in her eyes. “Trying to avoid training with Jericho, are we? But tonight would be better! A laugh bubbles o too high pitched to be genuine. We both know that visiting my mother is far worse than any hell Jericho could put me through on the training grounds, but the atte
“You know, I’m glad you’re finally opening up to other members of the pack,” Vanessa says, changing the subject, as if realizing I don’t want to linger on it too long.
She probably does.
She’s good at things like that.
Marcus stands by the window, his face a professional blank canvas He acts like he’s ignoring our conversation, but I know he’s heard every word. I’m pre
It’s more than a little overwhelming, but I’m trying to get used to it.
“It’s not easy, but I’m trying.” My lips quirk, just a little. “Someone really opened my eyes, and I’ve come to see things differently.”
“I’m glad to hear she helped you.” Vanessa’s expression softens. “Lucas has already called me several times, you know. Making sure I won’t be putting y
My eyes widen, horror washing o ne. “He what?”
She laughs, the sound rich and genuine. “It’s hard being married to an overprotective alpha, isn’t it?”
I groan, burying my face in my hands. The secondhand embarrassment and mild frustration over him is too much. “I can’t believe he did that. We talked about it before I left. He was on board with it!”
“He loves you, Ava. He’s just worried.”
I peek at her through my fingers, grateful to hear how amused she is, instead of irritated. “I know. I get it. But still. It’s too much.”