Filed to story: Tangled in Moonlight Unshifted Novel by Lenaleia
She will hear him soon, Selene says, proving she’s listening and present, just unwilling to answer my question. She even pads over to Vanessa to rest her furry husky head against the healer’s knee in a comforting gesture.
Aurum, for his part, snuggles even further against me, whining a little as he glances in his mate’s direction. He’s distraught by Selene’s lack of affection, but I have no idea how to help him.
(
Sorry, buddy. She’s still holding grudges from your past. My thoughts are aimed in his direction, but of course he can’t hear me.
It’s Selene who responds in my mind, with a derisive snort.
Grimoire pipes up then. She’s hard to get along with. It’s going to be a long road for that poor wolf.
“Yeah, it reallywait a second.”
I sit bolt upright, my eyes darting around the room until they land on the familiar leatherbound tome resting innocently on the dining table.
Not in my lap.
I’m not touching it at all.
And his voice is in my head.
“How are you talking to me right now?”
Really? You’re just now noticing? His voice echoes in my head, tinged with amusement. We’ve grown stronger. Our bond.
Slowly tapping my finger against my knee, I ask, “And… you weren’t going to tell me?”
You never asked, comes his cheeky reply.
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. Of course, he’d have a smartass answer like that.
Love at World’s End~
“Ava?” Vanessa watches me carefully, her head tilted to the side. “Is everything alright?”
“Sorry, I zoned out for a second.”
Vanessa raises an eyebrow but doesn’t press further. “I was asking if Kellan informed you about the brawls.”
“Brawls?” Come to think of it, he’d mentioned something about fighting. “Not in detail.”
Vester’s posture shifts, his spine straightening as he faces me. The change is subtle but unmistakable, and I sit up straight in response, rolling my shoulders back as I meet his gaze.
He’s a soldier reporting to his superior; not a pack member speaking casually to his Alpha’s mate.
“There were multiple violent altercations just before midnight. Multiple reports were taken of altered states of mind, and all have returned to their normal state by early morning, at approximately 9 this morning.”
“Go on,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady and authoritative.
Vester clears his throat. “The incidents occurred primarily in the communal areasthe shared dining hall and lodge. Three separate brawls broke out, involving a total of twentyfive pack members. The fights were unusually aggressive, beyond typical pack disputes.”
I rub my eyebrow, not even sure what to do with this information. “Were there any serious injuries?”
“Fortunately, no lifethreatening injuries were sustained. However, several wolves required. medical attention for broken bones and deep lacerations.”
My eyes flick to Vanessa, who nods in confirmation. She must have been busy treating the wounded.
“What sparked these fights?” I ask, my mind racing to understand the sudden outbreak of violence.
Vester’s expression tightens slightly. “The exact cause is unclear, Luna. However…” His eyes dart to Aurum’s massive form beside me.
I follow his gaze, understanding dawning. “You think it’s connected to what happened in here?” But Selene and Aurum didn’t fight until hours after the brawls broke out. Still…
“It’s a possibility we can’t ignore,” Vanessa chimes in, coming to stand beside her mate. “There is some precedent to aggressive spikes within packs during times of turmoil within the Alpha. It’s like a trickle effect. While most wolves will have a psyche strong enough to brush it off, there are those who will be affected. The timing seems to match up, and it would explain the phenomenon.”
Aurum, for his part, just sits there, gazing at both of his pack subordinates in an aloof manner, as though it has nothing to do with him.
Does he understand he’s this pack’s Alpha wolf? I ask Selene, worried.
In a sense. However, shifters are different than I. He is the Alpha’s wolf; not the Alpha himself.
Grimoire slips in to explain further as Selene falls silent. While this is his pack, he borrows Lucas’ authority. Though, if you really look at it, Lucas’ authority is given due to the strength of his wolf. It’s a fascinating social dynamic in this situation. He will not act as Alpha alone; he’s too primal of a mind. Selene is very different from the wolves inside these shifters’ heads.
I nod slowly as he speaks, piecing it together. The pack bond, usually a source of stability and unity, had been thrown into chaos when we attempted to break Lucas’ mental barriers. With his wolf taking over, it makes sense that some wolves might have reacted poorly to that disruption.
The tendency toward aggression and fighting is far more of a wolf characteristic than human. They must have felt what Aurum was feeling.
“And the involved parties are no longer… agitated?” I ask, choosing my words carefully.
“No, Luna. All participants have calmed significantly since the incidents. They’re currently confined to separate areas for everyone’s safety, but they’ve expressed remorse for their actions.”
He said that was starting around 9 this morning; so, about the time Selene had forced Aurum to submit.
It all tracks.
I feel a small surge of relief at that. At least we’re not dealing with ongoing violence.
“And the rest of the pack?” I press. “How are they handling this?”
Vester’s expression softens slightly, approval flickering in his eyes at my question. “There’s unease, naturally. Several are worried that there’s something going on to instigate such behavior, and there are those paranoid about sabotage. But no further incidents have occurred.”
“Thank you for your report, Vester,” I say, proud of how steady my voice sounds. “How do you recommend we proceed?”
As soon as the words leave my mouth, I want to kick myself. I’m supposed to be giving orders, not asking for them. But to my surprise, Vester doesn’t seem disappointed by my question. If anything, there’s a glimmer of respect in his eyes. 2
“Typically, in situations like this, we would hold a formal hearing,” he explains. “The involved parties would be given a chance to explain their actions, and appropriate disciplinary measures would be decided.”
I nod, grateful for his straightforward answer. “And who usually presides over these hearings?”
“The Alpha,” Vester says, then adds, “Or in his absence, the Luna.”
The weight of responsibility settles more firmly on my shoulders. With Lucas currently unable to fulfill his duties, this falls to me. The thought is terrifying, as someone whose personal life is in shambles, but I can’t shy away from it.
Kind of wish I’d had some sort of managerial leadership in my life, though. That would be helpful about now.
“I see. Thank you, Vester.” But as I glance at Aurum, the source of the agitation within the pack, I shake my head. “I don’t believe a formal hearing will be necessary in this situation, if we are the cause of it.”
“If I may, Luna,” Vanessa cuts in, “I respectfully disagree.”
“I also disagree with utmost vehemence, Luna.”
Their earnest dissent leaves me a little flustered. “You think I should question them, despite knowing the likely cause of their outbursts?”
“Yes,” Vester says, standing even straighter. I didn’t think that was possible. “With all due respect, Luna, the pack needs stability. If we were to admit that such a wave of violence came from our Alpha’s fractured state, it would reduce faith in our Alpha. Questioning the offenders and showing benevolence will not only increase morale, it will avoid such an outcome.”
I blink, taken aback by their united front. My gaze shifts between Vester and Vanessa, trying to process their suggestion. A knot forms in my stomach as the implications of their words sink in. “You’re suggesting that I lie.” My words come out flat. Disappointment churns in my chest. Vanessa shakes her head. “No, Luna. Not lie. We’re suggesting a strategic approach to the truth.”
“A strategic approach to the truth,” I repeat, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. “That sounds an awful lot like lying by omission.”
Vester steps forward, his expression earnest. “Luna, please understand. The pack is already on edge. If they were to learn that their Alpha’s condition caused such widespread aggression, it could destabilize us further.” 2
I run a hand through my hair, even though it isn’t in my face. My hands just need something to do. They’re shaking. “But isn’t honesty important? How can I expect the pack to trust me if I’m not forthcoming with them?”
“Trust is built on more than just raw honesty,” Vanessa says gently. “Sometimes, it’s about providing the stability and leadership the pack needs, even if that means carefully managing certain truths.”
My eyes dart to Aurum, still lounging on the floor. His golden gaze meets mine, and for a moment, I wish I could ask him what he thinks. But he can’t answer, can he? And even if he could, would the wolf understand the nuances of pack politics?
I wish Lucas was here to take these reins. I’m not fit to make these decisions.
But he’s not.
It’s pointless to sit here and whine about it.