Filed to story: Tangled in Moonlight Unshifted Novel by Lenaleia
Forcing submission is not easy. Not when your opponent is an alpha.
But she doesn’t sound like she opposes the plan.
Grimoire continues, his voice taking on a lecturing tone. “As long as Selene maintains control, Lucas will be able to recover his mental strength and regain balance. It’s crucial to understand that Lycan and human souls can only coexist when the Lycan soul is tempered into submission.
“If that’s so,” I interject slowly, turning these facts over in my head, “Why weren’t Lycans like this before? I mean, in the past? Selene was never feral.
It was uncommon to run across a feral Lycan. Usually a rogue, with too little time spent in a pack.
Grimoire’s flames dance excitedly, clearly pleased by my curiosity. “Ah, an excellent question! You see, the human mind is inherently too weak to contain a Lycan soul and endure its primal instincts. This is precisely why the shifters of today are much weaker than the Lycans of history.”
Lucas leans forward. “What are these Lycans? This doesn’t sound like proper history.
He wouldn’t know anything about the true history of wolf shifters; only what he’s grown up with. I can’t even remember if I’ve ever shared what I learned with him before his memory loss.
As Grimoire launches into what promises to be a lengthy explanation, I clear my throat. Even with as little time as I’ve spent with the book, I can recognize that he’s getting carried away with his own voice.
“Grimoire,” I interject, trying to sound firm instead of exasperated. “We appreciate the history lesson, but maybe we should focus on the matter at hand?”
Selene adds her own mental nudge, and Grimoire’s flames flicker.
“Of course, of course. My apologics, I do tend to get carried away with the wealth of knowledge at my disposal.”
Lucas, for his part, looks a little the problem in front of us, to Appointed at the interruption. But it’s too easy to try to avoid the problem in front of us, to get distracted by other things. I don’t want his memories to become a lack of priority.
There’s too much at stake, and the idea that an alpha challenge could come at any time has the area between my shoulder blades itching.
“What do you think?” I ask, pulling his attention away from the book. “Should we try Grimoire’s plan?”
I’m not sure how I feel about it.
“Something in here… Lucas taps his chest. “Something tells me to try it.”
His wolf agrees, Selene says quietly. His wolf wants out. He hates being apart from Lucas.
But that doesn’t mean this is a great idea..
Privately funneling my thoughts toward Selene still feels awkward. You said it won’t be easy. Do you really think you can do it?
At first, there’s silence. Then her mental voice, firm and steady. I will do it.
Fumbling to enter Lucas’ mind is an exercise in futility.
“It isn’t inside you,” Grimoire lectures, though his tone is kind. “It’s in the mental bond between you.”
But no matter how I open myself up, no matter how I reach, and no matter how I try to feel for anything else, any glimmer of connection between us, there’s only the bond that’s warm and golden in my chest.
It pulses steadily, but now that I know what I’m supposed to be hunting for, there’s a vague sense that it’s incomplete. Like a bridge missing its other half.
“Ava,” Lucas murmurs, his voice a soothing balm to my frayed nerves. “It’s okay. Take your time.
I feel his hand reach for mine, seeking to offer comfort. Before our fingers can touch, a sharp crack echoes through the room.
“No physical contact, Grimoire snaps. “It’ll only muddle things further amund must hann kann hlin amaalidne 1 mama! banal anima
My ever so patient mate grunts in annoyance but doesn’t argue. I hear him shift on the couch, probably settling back into position.
“Sorry,” I mutter, more to Lucas than Grimoire.
“Don’t apologize,” he says. “You’re doing great.”
But I’m not. I’m falling miserably.
“You’re thinking too hard, Grimoire chides. “Stop trying to force it. Let the magic flow naturally.”
I want to snap at him, to tell him how easy that is to say when you’re not the one fumbling in the dark. But at some point, I’ve learned more about myself. I can recognize that instinctive reaction as my frustration with myself, not with my teacher. I’m angry at my own incapability.
And, as Magister Orion cautioned me many times, that frustration is only an obstacle to my eventual success.
Taking a deep breath, I clear my mind. It’s an easy exercise now, hardly worth a thought in my head.
I focus on the golden warmth in my chest, imagining it expanding outward. Like tendrils of light that stretch from me, searching for somethinganythingto connect with.
Nothing.
“Again, it isn’t from there, Ava. You’re looking out now, but that’s still not where it is. Not from here. I can feel his fingers tap my chest. “It’s up here.” And then my temple.
“Okay, okay.”
But even when I fumble up there, there’s nothing
Only Selene. And Grimoire.
“Such latent talent,” Grimoire mumbles. “Yet you’re so dense at picking up the application.”
Love at World’s End-
I crack my eyes open, glowering in Grimoire’s direction. To my surprise, Lucas mirrors my expression, his brows furrowed as he stares daggers at the sentient book. Even Selene, now sitting across the room as she watches, growls with unmistakable hostility.
Grimoire clears his throat, clearly sensing the shift in the room’s atmosphere. “Perhaps a more handson approach would be beneficial, he says, his tone noticeably softer. “Ava, if you would hold my hand, I’ll guide you through the process!
Hesitantly, I reach out and place my hand in his. The moment our skin touches, I feel a surge of energy coursing through me. It’s different from the raw power I’ve experienced beforemore focused, controlled.
I want to ask him why, when I touch him as a book, he takes my magic. And how, now that he’s here and human, I can take his. But that’s a question for another time, not when I’m busy doing something important.
“Now,” Grimoire instructs, “close your eyes and follow my lead.”
I obey, letting my eyelids flutter shut. Grimoire’s presence in my mind is gentle but insistent, guiding my consciousness along unfamiliar paths. We delve deeper into the recesses of my psyche, searching for that elusive connection to Lucas.
But as we explore, Grimoire’s mental touch becomes hesitant, then puzzled. The silence in the room grows heavy as minutes tick by without result.
Finally, Grimoire’s voice breaks the stillness, tinged with confusion. “This… this can’t be right.”
I open my eyes to find him staring at me, his brow furrowed in concentration. “What is it?” I ask, anxiety creeping into my voice.
“You are correct, he admits reluctantly. “There’s nothing there. No trace of a pack bond, no lingering connection: Grimoire shakes his head, clearly struggling to articulate his thoughts. “As if the bond doesn’t exist.
How could that be possible? I’ve felt the connection between Lucas and me, felt the warmth of our bond, the presence of his mind, at the moment of our mating connection. It can’t just not exist.
Selene sounds downright surly. This shouldn’t be news to you, book. Ava has no access to the pack bond. Why act surprised now?
Grimoire bristles at her words. “There should still be something,” he snaps back. “A remnant, a trace, anything. Even without access to the full pack bond, there should be some evidence of the connection between mates.”
Lucas reaches out, his hand hovering near mine before he remembers Grimoire’s earlier admonition. “It doesn’t change how I feel,” he says firmly. “Bond or no bond, I know there’s something between us, Ava. I can feel it.”
“Of course there’s a bond, you alpha moron. It’s only one facet of it that seems to be missing…
Grimoire’s voice trails off as he looks at Selene, silver eyes brightening. “Of course. Of course!
Such an oversight.”
Apologize, Selene growls.
“Apologize? For what?”
She slinks forward, hackles raised and teeth gleaming as her upper lip lifts in a snarl. You disrespected our mate.
I nod. He did. I heard it.
Lucas, watching in silence, is as lost as ever.
“Excuse me? I have been nothing butah!”