Filed to story: Tangled in Moonlight Unshifted Novel by Lenaleia
I don’t need to be told twice. I scramble towards the familiar contraption, my hands shaking as I reach for the top hatch. It feels like an eternity before my fingers find purchase, and I haul myself up and in.
The inside of the safe room is just as cramped and uncomfortable as I remember, but right now, it feels like the most welcoming place in the world. I press myself against the far wall, making room for Elverly as she practically dives in after me.
“Come on, come on, I mutter, my eyes fixed on the opening. Where’s the Grand Sage? He was right behind us, wasn’t he?
Just as panic starts to claw my throat, I see his face appear. He’s panting heavily, his eyes wild with fear and determination. With a grunt, he squeezes his tiny frame through the hatch.
The vampires are so close now, I can hear their snarls. They’re completely feral. My whole body trembles, and I have to bite my lip to keep from screaming. This is it.
I’m going back to captivity.
But the Grand Sage moves with surprising agility for his size. His hands fly over the control panel, fingers dancing across buttons and levers. I don’t understand what he’s doing, but I pray to whatever higher power might be listening that it works.
The hatch begins to close, agonizingly slow.
A pale face pops over, red eyes staring into the room.
My breath catches in my throat, and I squeeze my eyes shut, unable to watch..
Then there’s a resounding clang as the hatch seals.
They’re probably scratching the hell out of the room, but it’s completely silent in this tiny, cramped space. All I can hear is our ragged breathing and the frantic beating of my own heart. “We made it,” Elverly whispers, her voice trembling. “We actually made it
I open my eyes, hardly daring to believe it. But it’s true. We’re sealed inside the safe room, the vampires locked out.
The Grand Sage slumps against the wall, his chest heaving. “That was… too close,” he manages between breaths.
Adrenaline is still coursing through my system, making my hands shake and my thoughts race. Vampires.
Just like at Westwood before.
But this time, I escaped.
As the initial shock begins to wear off, questions start flooding my mind. How did they find us? What happened to the shifters we left behind? And most importantly, what do we do now?
I open my mouth to voice these concerns, but the Grand Sage holds up a hand, silencing me as he presses more buttons again.
That gravitydefying flip of my stomach starts up.
“I have the coordinates of another safe haven, a place they intend to reunite. The Westwood wolves are good folk, but silly to hand their phones to a gnome. They will lose many today.”
“What happened? Why were they attacked?”
“Betrayal,” he says simply. “The girl you spoke ofher phone was filled with secrets. But she’s not the only one. He clicks his tongue in dismay. “At least we know who the traitors in this camp were. But the others won’t be so lucky.”
“Why are you following the Westwood pack?” I ask curiously. “They didn’t know your true
He shakes his head. “I have no particular fondness toward wolf packs, but Sister Miriam places. great faith in the leader of the Westwood Pack. It is war, Lisa. In war, it is imperative to gather your allies. We cannot fight back if we are all isolated. Do you think the three of us can stand against the army you saw?”
I shake my head. There’s no way. None of us are warriors.
We have a housekeeper, a magical engineer, and me.
We’d die in seconds.
“Ava?”
My eyes snap open, heart racing as I jolt upright in the armchair. Kellan’s face swims into focus, his brows pulled together with concern. For a moment, I’m disoriented, the remnants of a dream clinging to the edges of my consciousness.
*I… what happened?” I mumble, rubbing my eyes. The cottage comes into focus around me, and I remember where I am.
Fell asleep on the armchair while meditating. Oops.
Kellan crouches beside me, his voice low. “You fell asleep here. Are you okay?”
My neck is stiff from the awkward position. Rolling my shoulders, I try to work out the kink. “How long was I out?”
“If you went to bed as soon as I left, it’s been about four hours.”
I guess that’s fine. Daylight is streaming through the windows, so I hop out of the chair with excitement. “Can we see Lucas?”
Kellan holds up a hand. “Whoa, slow down. Visiting hours don’t start for a couple more hours. I brought you some clothes and breakfast.” He jerks a finger behind him at the table. “Figured you’d want a shower and to get…” He waves his hands vaguely over his body. “Presentable.”
Oh.
That’s a good idea, too.
“Thanks.”
“I’ll get you when it’s time.” Giving my shoulder an awkward pat, he adds, “Don’t forget to eat. I have a few things to do, but I’ll be here on time, okay?”
“Got it.”
The shower is amazing.
Hot water. Soap. Shampoo and conditioner that smell like peaches.
Clean clothes. They’re kind of large and hang off my frame like I’m a hobo, but hey. I’m a dirtfree hobo.
The tangles in my hair were horrific, but a lot of yanking and a sore scalp later, my blonde tresses hang free and wild with a bit of natural curl and a lot of frizz. Unfortunately, my hair products are in the Fae Ward with my suitcase.
Oh, well.
The aroma of coffee and bacon fills my nostrils, but my appetite is nowhere to be found. Sitting at the small table by the window, I wrap my hands around the warm mug, accepting its heat in lieu of ite caffeine & haronandpor candurich cite untouched
(272 Ava: SelfCare
My stomach is fluttering, making it hard to even think about eating,
Beyond the cabins of the compound, rolling hills stretch as far as the eye can see. In the light of dawn, it’s beautiful and golden.
Peaceful.
Serene.
Nothing like the chaos inside me.
Lucas.
The thought of him lying in a hospital bed, injured and without his memories, sends a sharp pain through my chest. I take a sip of coffee, hoping the bitter liquid will ground me, but it does little to ease the worry gnawing at my insides.
What if he doesn’t remember me at all? What if the bond we share means nothing to him now? If the wolves can’t seem to connect with him as alpha, does that mean our bond as mates is also null to him right now?
The questions swirl in my mind, each one more terrifying than the last.
I force myself to take a bite of the sandwich, knowing I’ll need my strength for whatever comes next. The flavors barely register as I chew mechanically, my thoughts a million miles away.
The compound seems eerily quiet from where I sit. No pack members running about, no sounds of training or daily life. It’s as if the entire world is holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. Or maybe that’s just me, projecting my own anxiety onto my surroundings.
Then again, we’re in the middle of the apocalypse, so there’s that…
My fingers trace the condensation on the window, forming abstract patterns that remind me of the runes I’ve been studying. Magic. Another complication in an already complex situation. I close my eyes, trying to sense that elusive string of power within me, but it remains frustratingly out of reach.
I really want that book.
Shoving my coffee and plate away, I focus inward, drawing on the well of power I’ve become intimately familiar with since my stay in the Fae Ward.
A small flame flickers to life above my palm, warmth tickling my skin. It comes easily now, a testament to the endless hours of practice with Magister Orion. There’s no fight or struggle to pull the magic into circulation within my body. It’s almost as easy as breathing to summon it.
I summon a second flame. Then a third. They hover above my hand, each no larger than a candle’s flicker. Keeping them uniform in size takes more concentration than I’d like to admit.
Setting them into a small circular revolution, I focus on maintaining their shape and trajectory. Sweat beads on my forehead, a physical manifestation of the mental effort required. It’s like juggling, but with fire and willpower instead of balls.