Filed to story: Tangled in Moonlight Unshifted Novel by Lenaleia
“Lisa, I’m worried. What if trying to become Lucas’ strength actually backfires instead?”
She turns from the window, her attention peeled off her mate, who’s running around getting the pack ready. “What do you mean?”
Flopping onto the couch, I groan. “I can’t even use the pack bond to give my first speech. That’s, like, the basic of all basics. Everyone knows I don’t have a wolf. It’s going to be a shitshow.” “Ava, come on,” Lisa says, crossing the room to sit beside me. “You’re selling yourself short.” “Am I though? Ultimately, I’m still an outsider. A Blackwood. Their enemy. And even if they’re okay with that, it’s about perception. What if the pack sees me as a liability? What if they think Lucas is weaker for choosing me? I’m trying to avoid him getting challenged, not bring them out of the woodwork”
“Is there any point in worrying about it now? You’ve already decided on this. There’s a mark on your neckwhich looks hideous, by the way, and I still think it needs some Bacitracin. But you can’t really go back now, can you?”
You can always introduce me to the pack, Selene says thoughtfully. Now that you’re mated, Alpha Renard isn’t going to want you for himself.
Jerking upright, I stare at Selene, who thumps her tail casually against the floor as she watches.
me.
“That might make you a target, though. You’re still in a husky body, not a wolf one.”
I told you, appearances are deceiving. I can hold my own, Ava.
“What’s going on?” Lisa asks. “What did she say? It sounds important.”
“Selene thinks I should introduce her to the pack. On the one hand, it would greatly diminish my liability as a wolfless defect of a Lama. On the otherit would bring forth so many questions.
But the world has changed.
The situation is different.
Lisa looks thoughtful, surprising me. I would have figured she would be on my side, rejecting the idea outright.
“Do you agree with her?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. I’m not familiar enough with pack politics to have a real opinion, I think
His woll wants me to declare myself, Selene admits.
A sharp knock on the door interrupts the conversation, and Lisa jumps up to open it, probably thinking it’s Kellan.
I’m pleasantly surprised to see Lucas and Vester. And, surprisingly, Dr. Blackwell.
Then, behind all of them, Sister Miriam.
Lucas immediately sits beside me on the couch, linking our hands together and bringing some warmth to my panicked heart.
“Where’s Vanessa?”
Vester looks surprised by my question. “She’s been running around to get an appropriate venue set up for tonight. Do I need to call her here?”
“No, no. Feeling a little uneasy around Vanessa’s mate, I shift uncomfortably on my feet. “It’s okay. I was just surprised she wasn’t here.”
The apartment is crowded with all of us, and Sister Miriam glides toward me, shocking me by leaning over to give a brief hug. It’s almost like an air hug, so nothing too intimatebut affection has never been a part of our relationship before.
She’s establishing your power base, Selene says softly. Everyone will know behind our Luna,
Wouldn’t that be a negative thing? Wolves hate vampires.
Sister Miriam stands
Sister Miriam has a good reputation among the pack. She saved several lives and that of their Alpha as well. Though there are those who will never like her, no one is foolish enough to go up against her directly.
Oh. That sounds promising. Definitely cases some of my worries that I’m about to be Lucas’ liability tonight.
Indeed,
“What are you guys doing here? Lisa asks, as Dr. Blackwell comes to stand beside her. “Is something wrong?”
little support.”
“And to speak with a little privacy,” Dr. Blackwell says with a wry smile. “There is always a chance for tonight to go badly.”
Vester glances at the gnome with some suspicion, his body tense. “Indeed.”
Three groups brought together as allies, but so many of them aren’t familiar with each other. I still don’t know Dr. Blackwell, really. Or the infamous Elverly, who seems to be content with hiding in whatever house they’re staying in.
But it’s a good thing they’re here. Straightening my shoulders, I clear my throat. “Selene brought up an interesting proposal.
Lucas stiffens beside me, even as his thumb gently caresses the back of my hand. “Oh?”
“She thinks we should introduce her to the pack as my wolf. Make her identity public.”
“No,” he refutes immediately.
Sister Miriam chuckles. “What a wily wolf. I do agree; it would be a prime situation to release the information and keep it contained. With communication outside of this compound inaccessible. it would mitigate several risks.”
Vester, on the other hand, crosses his arms, gazing at Selene with a raised brow. “Why?”
Selene stands, her ears pricked forward. We are bringing Ava forward as Luna to cement Lucas’ position as Alpha, are we not?
He looks startled. “We are. Why can I hear her?”
The hand caressing mine tightens, squeezing hard enough for me to wince, before Lucas seems to notice and lets go with a muttered apology.
I pat his leg, wondering why he reacted that way to Vester being able to hear Selene’s voice. “If she wants you to hear her, you will hear her!
Selene ignores Lucas’ reaction. Avar needs a show of strength when she’s introduced to the pack Too many know her as a Blackwood wolf, and all know she cannot shift. Once they know of me, it will be easier to form connections with the pack members.
Sister Miriam smiles faintly. “Those who want Ava’s power would not care about her wolf, and Alpha Renard will lose interest in her once she is announced as the Westwood Luna. It is low risk, as I see it.”
Lucas frowns, but his gaze settles on the gnome sitting quietly on the other side of the room. “Who are you?”
“Dr. Blackwell,” I whisper in Lucas’ car. “He saved Lisa. Then, when I realize he doesn’t understand, I add, “She’s my best friend. The human with black hair. She’s Kellan’s mate.”
“Ah”
Sister Miriam inclines her head toward Dr. Blackwell. “He is under an alias here in your territory, but he is a powerful figure among many supernaturals outside of your influence. The Grand Sage of the gnome community, and a pioneer in magical technology.”
Lucas’ emotions ripple through our bond, a mix of confusion and frustration that bleed over, affecting my own feelings. It leaves me antsy and tense.
Just push the bond away, Selene says then. Mate bonds can be very strong in early days. Your emotions will be mirrored if you can’t get control of it.
He doesn’t seem as affected as I am, but I imagine a thick blanket over his emotions, creating a small barrier between us. It’s enough to ease the tension in my shoulders.
“It would be a good decision to placate the wolves,” Vester says, his tone grim. “They need a little hope. Right now, even with the ability to sleep and rest, everyone’s on edge.”
I turn to face him, noting the tight lines around his eyes, the slight downturn of his mouth. He continues, “Morale is low. There are a lot of questions due to Alpha’s absence. His unresponsiveness in the pack bond is also coming up, especially when they saw him out today” He nods his head toward Lucas.
Lucas’ hand finds its way to my back, his touch warm and comforting as he rubs slow circles. The gesture is so familiar, yet tinged with the knowledge that for him, it’s all new. I lean into his touch, soothed by his affection.
“You want Ava to be my buffer, he says, his words flat and cool, at odds with his gentle touch. “Yes,” Vester doesn’t flinch from his Alpha’s regard. “We need to buy time and avoid the worst case scenario. Are you up for an inevitable challenge?”
A soft rumble escapes Lucas, a low growl. “I will not hide behind my mate.”
“We aren’t intending for you to hide, Alpha. Merely boost confidence among our people. We have families, their pups. They need you to be strong, Alpha.”
Lucas holds Vester’s gaze, until the delta’s eyes drop to the floor. “I can see the merit in the argument,” he says finally, his voice low.
“I want to do it.”
As do I.
He nods. “Do as you wish.”
Sister Miriam clears her throat. “With that decided, I’m here with news. Good news, this time.”
Selene settles by my feet, resting her head on Lucas’ knee. Her affection for him is obvious, and Lisa stares with a puzzled frown.