Filed to story: Tangled in Moonlight Unshifted Novel by Lenaleia
I return my attention to Lucas, watching as he twitches and mumbles incoherently. My fingers itch to brush the damp hair from his forehead, to offer some small comfort, but I remain frozen in place.
Silence stretches.
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“Yes,” I whisper, clinging to that connection like a lifeline.
“Then don’t look so down,” Kellan says, his voice gentle but firm.
I try to smile, to show some glimmer of hope, but it feels forced and brittle on my face. Suddenly, Lucas bolts upright, his eyes wide and unseeing. We all jump, startled by the abrupt movement.
Then it’s Selene. She’s no longer curled up into a placid ball of fur, but standing, hackles raised and a low growl rumbling.
The air in the room is thick and heavy with oppressive energy, all emanating from Lucas. It’s as if all the oxygen has been sucked out, leaving me gasping for breath.
Lucas’ eyes are open, but they’re not his. Not really. The warm golden hues I’ve come to love are now a blazing, feral amber. His gaze darts around the room, unfocused and wild. The sheer power emanating from him is overwhelming.
“Lucas?” I whisper, my voice barely audible even to my own ears.
He doesn’t respond. Doesn’t even look at me. His chest heaves with rapid, shallow breaths, and his muscles are coiled tight, ready to spring at any moment.
He can’t hear you right now, Grimoire says. Stay quiet. This is Selene’s fight.
A soft thud draws my attention for a split second. Lisa’s crumpled to the floor, her face pale and eyes wide with fear, gasping for oxygen. An alpha’s presence is too much for humans.
Kellan is at her side in an instant, shielding her with his body while keeping a wary eye on Lucas. “Be careful, Luna. That’s not Lucas right now. That’s pure wolf.”
I know he’s right. The man I love is nowhere to be seen in those wild eyes. This is something primal, dangerous. Yet I can’t bring myself to be afraid. The mate bond pulses between us, stronger than ever before. It tugs at me, urging me closer even as every instinct screams to keep my distance.
Selene’s growl deepens, drawing Lucas’ attention. His head snaps towards her, lips curling back to reveal elongated canines. The tension in the room ratchets up another notch as Lucas shifts.
In mere seconds, where my mate once stood, a massive wolf now looms. My breath catches in my throat as I take in his new form. This isn’t the Lucas I remember.
His fur gleams like spun gold, an ethereal glow emanating from each strand. He’s enormous, dwarfing Selene in a way that makes my stomach clench with worry.
Before I can voice my doubts, Lucas lunges at Selene. The room erupts into chaos as the two wolves clash, snarls and growls filling the air.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Kellan react swiftly. He grabs Lisa, shoving her between himself and the wall, shielding her from the fray. The protective gesture would be touching if I weren’t so terrified for Selene.
My wolf, my other half, fights with everything she has. But Lucas’s sheer size gives him an overwhelming advantage. My heart pounds as I watch him overpower her, pinning her to the ground with his massive body, her throat grasped between his jaws.
Then, something shifts.
Selene’s presence explodes outward, filling the room with an energy so potent it makes my skin tingle. Lucas yelps, leaping away from her as if burned. He shakes himself, looking disoriented, while Selene struggles to her feet. She’s limping and hurt, but her presence in my head is silent.
I don’t know what she’s thinking. What she’s feeling, as she looks at him.
She’s already launching herself at Lucas again. This time, though, the fight is different. Selene’s presence continues to pulse through the room, and I can see its effect on Lucas. His movements become less certain, his attacks less ferocious.
Selene is subduing him, not with physical strength, but with the sheer force of her will. I watch in awe as my small, silver husky holds her own against the golden giant.
He’s coming to his senses, Grimoire remarks calmly, as though everything’s been under his control this entire time. Her presence is breaking through that primal part of him. He should recognize her soon.
My heart leaps into my throat as Lucas thrashes Selene to the ground. The sight of my mate and my wolf locked in such a violent struggle tears at my soul. I want to intervene, to protect them both, but I know this is beyond my control.
EOS SEE S
Suddenly, the golden wolf pauses. My breath catches as I watch his bristling, stiff tail lower and tuck between his legs. The change is so abrupt it takes me a moment to process. Gone are the fierce growls and snarls that filled the room moments ago. Instead, a soft whine escapes Lucas’ muzzle.
Selene, seizing the opportunity, surges forward. She pins Lucas to the ground, her teeth nipping at his face and ears. It’s not the vicious attack from before, but a display of dominance. My wolf is asserting herself, and to my amazement, Lucas is allowing it.
I watch, transfixed, as Lucas slowly lowers himself to the ground in submission. The sight of such a powerful alpha yielding to my Selene is both aweinspiring and slightly unnerving. Selene, panting from exertion, lays atop him, her eyes meeting mine with an unmistakable air of smugness.
Well done, I think, unable to keep a small smile from tugging at my lips. Despite the tension still thrumming through my body, pride swells in my chest.
As I draw nearer, Lucas’ nose twitches. He begins sniffing frantically, his nostrils flaring as he catches my scent. The change in him is immediate and startling. He pokés his head out from beneath Selene, whining and whimpering in my direction. His paws scrabble against the floor as he tries to move towards me, desperation evident in every movement.
Selene snaps at him, a quick, sharp reprimand. Lucas settles instantly, but the whining continues. He isn’t Lucas, she says, her mental voice a welcome reprieve from the silence in my head. He’s in there somewhere, but right now, his wolf is at the forefront of his mind.
“Is that okay? Is he going to be okay?” Sitting beside them, I rub a finger over Lucas’ wolf muzzle. I get several frantic licks for my efforts.
Yes. His psyche is overwhelmed, but he should be back soon. You can feel it in your bond, can’t you?
The bond between me and Lucas is strong, pulsing, and warm, far more present than before. It almost feels like I can reach out to touch it.
And there’s something in my headit isn’t quite there, but there’s a nebulous space where something should be.
“I think so.”
He will return, Grimoire assures me. He isn’t broken. But his wolf is the one in control right now. A smile tugs at my lips as Lucasno, his wolfnuzzles against me. The golden fur is soft beneath my fingers, and I can’t help but marvel at how such a massive, powerful creature can be so gentle. His eyes, though still wild and unfamiliar, hold a warmth that makes my heart skip a beat.
“Will I be able to communicate with him soon?” I ask, glancing between Grimoire and Selene. The question burns in my mind, a desperate need to connect with my mate in any way possible. 2
Soon, Grimoire assures me. O
Great.
Selene sets her paw on the golden wolf’s head, shoving it down while she rubs her head against my hand.
“Jealous?” I ask her in amusement.
Why would I be jealous? she asks, even as she wiggles her way between us.
Unlike with Lucas, she isn’t trying to share affection with the golden wolf. It’s me she wants to snuggle against.
I guess she still doesn’t have a full connection with his wolf.
No, she agrees shortly.
As Kellan and Lisa approach, the golden wolf lets out a low, menacing growl in warning. Selene, ever protective, sits up abruptly and snarls back. He immediately cowers in response.
Kellan’s voice cuts through the tension. “It might be best to keep him in here. Not everyone’s seen their Alpha’s new form.”
The pack is already on edge; seeing their Alpha in an unfamiliar state could cause more unrest. He’s taking it in stride, but maybe he’s already seen it before.
Selene’s agreement comes with an unexpected caveat. It wouldn’t be good for them to see their Alpha wolf submitting to me, either. Unless… Her piercing gaze falls on me. Unless you wish to become Alpha yourself.
Me? Alpha? The very thought sends a jolt of panic through my system.
“No. Absolutely not. No way!”
The vehemence of my refusal surprises even me. I’ve never wanted that kind of power or responsibility. I’m still adjusting to becoming Luna.
As if sensing my distress, Lucas’ wolf squeezes past Selene. He bumps his massive head against my shoulder, whining softly, in tender affection.
Selene grumbles, clearly not thrilled with the display. I can feel her conflicted emotions through our bondprotective, jealous, and yet somehow resigned.
Lisa settles beside me, with slow and steady movements. He ignores her. She reaches out tentatively, her hand hovering over Lucas’ golden fur. To my surprise, he allows her touch, though he remains somewhat aloof.
“It was hard to breathe when he first woke up,” Lisa says, her voice barely above a whisper. “Like all the air was suddenly pulled out of the room.”
I nod, understanding exactly what she means. “That was his alpha presence. It’s always hard for humans to take, especially when it’s unleashed suddenly like that.”
Lisa sighs, her hand still absently stroking Lucas’ fur. “Wolf business is way too complicated for humans.” She glances over her shoulder at Kellan.
“Are you having a hard time staying with Kellan?” I ask, concern coloring my voice. I’ve been so wrapped up in my own drama that I haven’t had a chance to really check in with her about her new living situation.
Lisa just shrugs, her expression carefully neutral. “It’s fine.”
But I know my best friend. There’s something going on.
“Do you need to stay with me instead?” I offer, even though I’m not sure how I’d manage it with Lucas in this state. What if he tries to eat her because she gets up to use the bathroom at night?