Filed to story: Tangled in Moonlight Unshifted Novel by Lenaleia
“My apologies, Ava,” he murmurs, his voice strained. “It isn’t often we run into a true omega entering heat.”
My brow furrows in confusion as I glance between the two shifters. “A true omega?” I echo uncertainly. “I’ve seen many omegas enter heat. It doesn’t seem rare.”
Clayton shifts his stance, angling himself towards me as he studies me with a contemplative frown. “There are omegas by birth and omegas by rank,” he explains, his deep voice measured and even. “Omegas by birth are rare, and their heat can affect any male in their radius. They’re the only ones whose heat can influence the rationality of betas and higher ranks.”
My eyes widen as understanding dawns. So that’s why Rowan reacted the way he didbecause I’m supposedly this “true omega” they speak of. A shiver runs down my spine as the implications sink in. If my heat can affect even the most disciplined of shifters, then I’m in far more danger than I’d initially thought.
Clayton’s piercing gaze holds mine, his expression unreadable. “Is your mother an omega, Ava?”
I tense at the question, my jaw clenching instinctively. Memories of my family surge to the surface, bitter and unwanted. I can’t bring myself to answer, to reveal any part of that life I’ve fought so hard to leave behind.
An uncomfortable silence stretches between us, thick with unspoken questions and lingering tension. Finally, Clayton gives a slight nod, as if accepting my reticence for now.
“Very well,” he says, his tone neutral. “We’ll get you settled, and you can tell us what you’re comfortable with when you’re ready.” He turns to Rowan, his expression hardening ever so slightly. “Keep your distance for now. I’ll have one of the healers take a look at her.”
Rowan bobs his head in a terse nod, his amber eyes flickering towards me with a mixture of remorse and something elsesomething I can’t quite place. “Of course, Alpha,” he murmurs, taking a measured step back.
My heart pounds in my ears as the weight of the situation presses down on me. I’m in the company of not just one, but two powerful shiftersan alpha and his beta, no less. And if what they’re saying is true, if I really am this “true omega” they speak of, then I’m in a far more precarious position than I’d ever imagined.
Where the fuck is Selene when I need her?
Selene, where the fuck are you?
A tremor wracks through me, and I clutch Clayton’s jacket tighter around my shoulders, seeking the meager comfort it provides.
I want to go back home. I want to be in my apartment, far away from so many shifters. From the alpha of this region. So much for my plans of hiding among humans.
My heart still thunders as I shiver uncontrollably. I draw in a shaky breath, smelling the ocean and pines once againClayton’s scent. Oddly enough, it helps calm my frayed nerves.
I shift in my seat, wincing as the movement aggravates the aches and bruises littering my body.
Clayton’s imposing figure catches my eye as he stands guard outside the vehicle. His broad shoulders are squared, his stance unwavering, every inch the powerful alpha he is. Yet there’s a quiet strength about him, a sense of steady reassurance that radiates from his very presence.
Despite my fear for my future, I can’t deny the feeling of safety that surrounds me in his presence.
It’s a foreign sensation, one I haven’t experienced much. Not since…
I shake my head, grimacing as thoughts of Lucas intrude even now.
It must be an alpha thing. Though I never felt anything resembling security with Alpha Renard. Fear, maybe.
Rowan is back, nodding to Clayton, then to me. As if sensing my trepidation at the man’s approach, Clayton shifts his stance, angling his body towards me ever so slightly. It’s a subtle movement, but one that speaks volumesa silent reassurance that he’s there, watching over me.
Rowan stands at a respectful distance, his amber eyes trained on me with an intensity that’s almost unsettling.
“We’ve secured accommodations for you.” he says his tone brisk and professional. “One of our healers will tend to your injuries and ensure you’re comfortable.”
I nod mutely, unsure of what to say. My gaze drifts back to Clayton, and a pang of uncertainty twists in my gut. I’m grateful for their assistance, truly, but a part of me can’t help but wonder what their endgame is. What do they want from me, this supposed “true omega”?
Rowan must sense my hesitation, for he takes a tentative step forward, his expression softening ever so slightly. “You’re safe here, Ava,” he murmurs, his voice low and soothing. “We won’t let any harm come to you, I promise.”
His words should reassure me, but instead, they send a shiver down my spine. What if they find out my real identity? How about then?
I study the large, imposing building as we approach, my brow furrowing slightly. The sleek, modern architecture is striking, but it’s the logo that catches my eyea stylized wolf’s head, rendered in shades of gray,
“This is one of our pack’s facilities,” Clayton explains, no doubt noticing my curiosity. “A hospital, of sorts.”
A hospital run by shifters? The concept is as unsettling as it is intriguing. I can’t help but wonder what sort of medical practices they employ here, how different they might be from human hospitals.
Clayton ushers me through the ambulance bay, and I can’t resist glancing around, taking in the flurry of activity. Nurses and orderlies bustle about, their movements crisp and efficient. For a moment, it all seems so… normal. Like any other hospital.
But then I catch a glimpse of a patient being wheeled by on a gurney, and I suck in a sharp breath. His face is twisted in agony, body contorting unnaturallyno doubt the result of an uncontrolled shift. A stark reminder that this place is anything but ordinary.
We step into an elevator, and Clayton punches the button for one of the upper floors. As the doors slide shut, I find myself keeping close to him, seeking reassurance in his steady presence. It’s like an aura around him that keeps me calm.
The ride is mercifully brief, and soon we’re stepping out onto a hushed hallway, ourfootfalls clacking away on the tile, echoing around us. Clayton leads me to a private room, the door ajar.
“You’ll be comfortable here,” he says, his deep voice a low rumble. “One of our nurses will be in shortly to check on you.”
“Thank you.” I slip into the room, sinking gratefully onto the edge of the neatly made bed. Clayton leaves once I’m settled, and it’s as if I’m drained the moment he walks away.
The room is spartan and sterile, but it has a large window that faces the mountains.
The soft click of the door opening pulls me from my observation, and I turn to see a young woman in scrubs entering the room, a clipboard in hand. She
?’
offers me a warm, reassuring smile as she approaches.
“Good evening, Ava,” she says, her voice gentle. “I’m Nurse Jenna. I’ll be taking care of you tonight.”
I manage a small nod in return, suddenly selfconscious under her attentive gaze. She begins checking my vitals, her movements deft and practiced, and I can’t help but marvel at how… normal it all feels. Almost like being in a human hospital.
Almost.
“How are you feeling?” Jenna asks, her brow creasing ever so slightly as she takes note of my various cuts and bruises. “Any dizziness? Nausea?”
I shake my head, finding my voice. “Just… sore,” I murmur, flexing my fingers gingerly. “And tired. And cold.”
Jenna nods, making a note on her clipboard. “That’s to be expected after what you’ve been through,” she says, her tone sympathetic. “We’ll get you something for the pain, and you can rest.”
Rest. The word is tantalizing.
“Let me finish a few more questions, dear. How old are you?”
I blink at Jenna’s question, feeling a flicker of uncertainty. “My age? I’m twenty.”
She makes a note, her pen scratching across the paper. “And how many cycles have you experienced so far?”
Cycles? I blink at her.
Jenna looks up, her gaze appraising. There’s a hint of surprise in her expression, but she schools her features quickly. “Heat cycles? When a female shifter goes into heatwhen she becomes fertile and experiences an increased drive to mate.”
Oh. Realization dawns, heat creeping up my neck. Of course. That’s what she’s asking about.
For a second, I forgot that I was at a shifter hospital.
I shift uncomfortably on the bed, acutely aware of the dull aches all over my body. “This… this is my first.
time.”
“Your first heat?” Jenna’s brows lift, but she doesn’t seem scandalizedjust curious. Professional. “I see. And have you noticed any changes in your body or behavior recently? Increased sexual desire?”
I shake my head. “No, nothing like that. I feel normal.”
Jenna makes another note on her clipboard.
“Interesting,” she murmurs, more to herself than to me. “We’ll have to monitor you closely, then. It’s rare, but some omegas can experience delayed or irregular cycles, especially if they’ve been suppressed.”
Suppressed? The word niggles at the back of my mind, but I don’t have a chance to ask about it before Jenna is rising to her feet, all business once more.
“For now, rest up,” she instructs, offering me a reassuring smile. “We’ll keep you comfortable here until your heat passes safely. Don’t hesitate to let one of the nurses know if you need anything at all.”
I nod mutely, watching as she slips from the room, the door clicking shut behind her. Alone once more, I let out a slow breath, sinking back against the pillows.
My first heat. It feels weird to say those words. I’d never been in heat beforeI’d never had a wolf before.
But I can’t shift, so how am I in heat? It makes no sense.
I feel nothing. No raging hormones, no insatiable urges. Just the dull, lingering ache from my injuries and exhaustion from everything that happened today.
Selene? I call, but it’s still silent.