Filed to story: Tangled in Moonlight Unshifted Novel by Lenaleia
We were doing well before. Now, it’s as if we are barely scraping by. There’s always a new influx of bodies of late.
You’re overthinking again, Selene chides gently.
I smile ruefully. “Can you blame me? There’s so much at stake.”
True, but worrying won’t solve anything. You need to act.
“And what action do you suggest?” I ask, genuinely curious about her perspective.
Selene rolls her head to the side, her ice-blue eyes meeting mine. Go see these supernaturals for yourself. Talk to them, understand their needs and what they can offer. Then you’ll know if bringing them here is the right choice.
The thought of parting from Lucas makes me grimace. We’ve spent far too much time apart.
Talk to him. See what he thinks. It’s not a decision you can or should make on your own.
Rubbing her ears, I tease, “Six months ago, you would have told me that I should do whatever I want.”
Six months ago, you weren’t Luna. You were finding yourself and responsible for no other. She snorts, her doggy breath warm against my leg.
“Oh. It has nothing to do with the fact that you—“
Selene jerks back, yowling in typical husky fashion. Must you bring that up again?
“Bring what up? Oh, the fact that you hated—“
A warbling, up-down grumble—maybe it’s more of a yodel—has me biting my lower lip hard to keep the snicker from escaping.
That was a long time ago, she protests. I have accepted your choice in mate.
“Yes, yes. I’m sorry. I won’t ever bring up the fact that you once hated Luc—“
No!
Her triple-time aroos and the whining cadence that comes with them almost break me, and I turn, pressing a fist against my mouth, desperately trying not to laugh. She’s going to be so upset with me if I laugh at her.
But there’s nothing more hilarious than Selene when her husky side comes out. It’s like she forgets she’s actually a wolf inside.
“Luna!”
Struggling to regain my composure as Selene mouths at my arm in frustration, probably because she can feel the laughter in my head, I turn to the familiar voice, squinting against the bright sunlight. “Hi, Wes.”
Wes comes to an abrupt stop a few feet from me, breathing heavily from his run. “Hi, Luna.”
He avoided me for months after the vampire incident, apparently suffering from a severe case of hero worship. Once I finally cornered him and told him to treat me like normal, we’ve regained a new status quo.
One where he stares at me with stars in his eyes, and I try really, really hard not to notice.
The hero worship has yet to wane. He’s absolutely fascinated with the fact that his Luna can wield magic. Most of the younger wolves are. Some of the older ones aren’t thrilled, but the overwhelming response has been in my favor, effectively keeping them quiet.
Oh, there are whispers. And those whispers are routed to Lucas’ ears.
I know they exist, but I refuse to know what people are saying. As Selene and Vanessa have both pointed out, my self-esteem can be deflated with a single pin.
It’s a work in progress.
“What are you doing, Wes?” Judging from his flushed cheeks and how he was running across the compound, I’d guess he’s on some sort of errand. The younger wolves have really stepped up lately. Many of them even help gather firewood.
Wes grimaces before smoothing his expression into careful neutrality. “I was tasked with helping the Aspen wolves settle in, Luna.”
His attitude catches my attention immediately. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” Wes replies, his gaze fixed somewhere over my left shoulder, avoiding mine.
I narrow my eyes, channeling every ounce of stern Luna energy I can muster. It’s not much, considering I still feel like an imposter most days, but I give it my best shot.
Selene, ever the helpful companion, radiates just a touch of her power. It’s enough to make Wes’ shoulders slump in defeat.
“I don’t like the Aspen wolves,” he admits in a whisper.
The soft words startle me. The Aspen wolves have integrated seamlessly into our pack life since their arrival. They pull their weight, joining hunting parties and scouting expeditions. They’ve even been invaluable in relaying information back to Alpha Clayton. Having a solid relationship with a stable ally has boosted the morale in Wolf’s Landing greatly.
“Why not?” I probe gently. “They’ve been nothing but helpful.”
Wes scowls, his youthful features twisting in distaste. “They all think Ivy’s a better Luna candidate. And they think Alpha Lucas is going to take her as his second mate. But he would never!”
Selene growls low in her throat, the sound reverberating through our bond. I reach out to tug at her ears, a gesture that’s become our silent signal for ‘calm down’.
“Don’t worry about such silly rumors, Wes,” I say, forcing a lightness into my tone that I don’t feel. Inside, irritation flares hot and bright. It’s an emotion I’ve become all too familiar with since Ivy’s arrival.
Who do you think those rumors came from? Selene grumbles through our bond.
I tug at her ears again, harder this time. Such things can’t be proven. Even though the same damn thoughts go through my head. They wouldn’t come up with such an idea out of nowhere.
Exactly.
“But Luna,” Wes protests, his eyes wide with concern, “they’re saying—“
“I know what they’re saying,” I interrupt, gentler than I feel. “Rumors are just that—rumors. They have no power unless we give it to them.”
The words sound hollow even to my own ears.
Wes doesn’t look convinced. His brows pull together, and I can almost see the gears turning in his head. “But what if—“
“No ‘what ifs’,” I say firmly. “Alpha Lucas and I are mates. I’m his only mate, and I’m the Luna of this pack. Nothing will change over some silly rumors.”
Wes nods slowly, but I can tell he’s not entirely reassured. “I just don’t want anything to happen to you, Luna,” he mumbles, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. “We’re all loyal to you. A lot of us feel really bad for how we treated you before. You’ve been amazing. More than amazing. You’re an angel to our pack!”
His earnestness tugs at my heart, even through the awkward singing of my praises. “Nothing’s going to happen to me, Wes. I appreciate your concern, but I promise everything’s fine.”
Wes looks as though he wants to believe me, but can’t. Then he shuffles his feet, clearly uncomfortable. “I guess I should get back to helping them out,” he says reluctantly. “The new wolves need some clothes and food.”
I nod, offering him a smile I hope looks more genuine than it feels. “Thank you for telling me about this, Wes. And remember, if you hear anything else, you can always come to me.”
He brightens at that, his chest puffing out slightly. “Of course, Luna. I won’t let you down.”
As I watch him jog away, the smile slips from my face. Selene presses against my leg, a soft growl still emanating from her throat.
You can’t ignore this forever.
“I’m not ignoring it. I’m choosing not to let it affect me.”
Selene’s disbelief radiates through our bond. And how’s that working out for you?
I don’t answer. We both know the truth.
Ivy, with her perfect hair and flawless skin, her easy grace and effortless charm. Ivy, who seems to know exactly what to say and do in every situation. Ivy, who comes from a respected pack and understands wolf politics in a way I never will. Always ingratiating herself with as many people as she can, solidifying her power base.
Stop it, Selene growls, nudging my hand with her nose. You’re spiraling again.
Scowling at the reminder, I take a deep breath. Then five more. My pulse slows, having kicked up several notches since Wes started talking.
“I should talk to Lucas,” I mutter, more to myself than to Selene.
Yes, you should, she agrees readily. Communication is key in any relationship, especially one as complicated as yours.
I snort at that. Complicated doesn’t even begin to cover it.
As it turns out, I don’t get a chance to talk to Lucas that night.
Or the next one.
Or even the one after that.