Filed to story: Tangled in Moonlight Unshifted Novel by Lenaleia
I don’t care, Selene growls, her determination a living, breathing thing. I won’t give up on you, Ava. Never.
A sob builds in my throat, but I swallow it down. I won’t give up either, I vow, meaning it with every fiber of my being. We’ll find a way back to each other.
Somehow.
Phoenix reaches over and buckles me in, his movements brusque and impersonal. All of the announcements are done, and I didn’t even notice. them happening. The plane’s moving. I close my eyes, feeling the distance between Selene and me growing with every second, an invisible tether stretching taut.
I love you, I whisper, pouring every ounce of my heart into those three words.
I love you too, Selene whispers back, her presence fading as the plane gains speed.
And then she’s gone, the connection severed by miles of empty sky.
***
The plane ride goes smoothly. I sleep for most of it, because there’s no point in being awake. I don’t want to see Phoenix’s face, much less talk to him.
The ride home is just as silent, but as soon as I see the forest naar home my stomach clenchon in drand mu alanahan
How many times have I driven through here myself? How many times have I had pack members stalk me through the woods, waiting until I arrive home, just to taunt me? To throw stones? To kick and punch and bite, all because I had no wolf?
I can’t remember. It’s impossible to remember. It’s happened so often, everything blurs together. It’s like asking about every time you ate lunch: You can’t count them all. You can’t keep track. It’s just life.
Vomit gathers up the back of my throat as familiar neighborhood streets populate my view.
I was hoping to never see this place again, and now I’m here.
If I had hackles, they’d be raised.
I wish desperately that I could talk to Selene, but the distance is way too far.
There’s a nasty lump in my throat as Phoenix escorts me inside the house that fills me with such dread. His lip curls in disgust as he sniffs me. “Get the Aspen stench off you before Dad gets home,” he orders. There isn’t a hint of big brotherly affection in his words or demeanor. “I’m sure you still have clothes in your room. Don’t dawdle; Alpha Renard will be here for dinner. He’s been worried about you.”
Gritting my teeth, I resist the urge to snap back at him. Worried, my ass!
Old habits die hard, ingrained from a lifetime of following their rules and commands. Doing as he says. comes so naturally that my shoulders slump as I head to my room for some clothes. There aren’t many of them, and I find myself missing my little wardrobe in Cedarwood. Or even the clothes Clayton and Ivy had gathered for me. Those were less my style, but at least they weren’t worn out and threadbare.
Without a word, I head to the bathroom, stripping off my clothes and stepping into the shower. The hot water stings my skin, but I welcome the pain, scrubbing furiously to remove any lingering traces of Clayton’s scent clinging to me. If they can still smell it, I won’t hear the end of it.
I’m worried about my scent changing. About my heat.
About Selene.
But there’s nothing I can do about it right now. I’ll just have to think of something to throw them off. They can’t prove I have a wolf, so it should work out- eventually.
Lathering up the scratchy washcloth, I scour every inch of my body until my skin is raw and pink. Cedarwood and Clayton’s packit all washes down the drain in a swirl of soap suds. Just like that, the life I’d begun to build for myself disappears, erased with the simple order from Phoenix.
I have to be careful.
Rinsing off the last stubborn suds, I shut off the water and step out, grabbing a towel to dry myself.
My old room feels like a stranger’s space, the walls closing in with every passing second. It’s been ransacked, likely to look for any hint of where I might be.
Which begs the questionhow did they find me?
Lenaleia
Creator’s Thought
When I walk downstairs, Phoenix is hanging up the phone. It strikes me how much I’ve changed when I realize I have no curiosity, no spark to ask who he was talking to.
I don’t care.
It’s either related to me in a way that isn’t going to be pleasant, or it will have nothing to do with me. That’s it. Those are the two options.
I have no urge to grow closer to the asshole who shares my genetics, so I don’t ask.
Instead, I plan.
I won’t be able to escape right away. I’m not even sure how I can escape. I have no money, no phone, no contact with the outside world. But now that I’ve been out there? Now that I’ve been on my own?
It doesn’t seem as impossible as it did when I lived here.
If I just have a chance, I’ll take it.
“Some of the guys will be coming by to watch over you,” Phoenix announces, coming by to sniff at me. “Don’t start anything. There’s plenty in the fridge, so just make something for dinner. Don’t forget that Alpha Renard is coming.”
Hah. So not only have I been dragged home, now I have to make them dinner?
No, thank you.
I ignore Phoenix to plop down on the worn couch, reaching for the remote. The soft fabric smells like the artificial scent of clean linen. A scent I’ve grown to despise over the years.
Phoenix lingers nearby, his frown deepening as I lazily flip through channels. I can feel the weight of his gaze, disapproval radiating off him in waves. He’s struggling, I can tell. Part of him wants to chew me out like the disappointment I am. The other part is trying to play nice, to lull me into a false sense of security for whatever twisted game he’s playing.
I don’t give him the satisfaction of acknowledging either side. My eyes remain glued to the TV as I rapidly cycle through channels, a kaleidoscope of colors and noise filling the living room.
Then, a familiar scene catches my eye. A hunky male lead with tousled hair and a roguish grin. The overthetop soundtrack swelling with orchestral passion as the camera pans over his chiseled torso.
It’s the same cheesy shifter romance Selene had been obsessed with at the apartment.
The ache in my chest sharpens as I take it all in, judging it clinically in my head to try to stop the feelings from overwhelming my heart. Terrible acting. Melodramatic plot. Cringeworthy dialogue. A lump forms in my throat, grief threatening to overwhelm me.
On the screen, the alpha hero cups the face of his trembling omega mate, his eyes smoldering with an intensity that could set the screen on fire. “I will never choose her,” he growls, his voice a deep rumble that is probably sending thousands of women across the country into a dramatic swoon. “And I will never let you go.
I nearly choke on a bitter laugh. If only my life was as simple as worrying that my mate would want another woman.
A sharp knock sounds on the door. I try not to tense as Phoenix opens the door, but my body betrays me. The scent of a familiar, nauseainducing wolf washes over me, thick and musky with undertones of sweat and aggression. My heart pounds against my ribcage as if begging to be let out.
Todd Mason steps inside first, his eyes immediately finding me on the couch. A slow, predatory smile stretches across his face as he rakes his gaze over me. I fight back a shudder, memories of his cruel hands on my body making my skin crawl. I can smell the tuna on This breath from here, courtesy of the tuna sandwich for he eats for lunch every day.
It’s one of my least favorite smells now. I can’t even think about tuna without gagging.
“Well, well,” he rumbles, never taking his eyes off me. “If it isn’t little Ava Grey, back where she belongs.”
The other two shifters flank him, their leering stares just as unsettling. I swallow hard, my mouth dry, as Phoenix turns to face them.
“Keep your hands off her unless it’s absolutely necessary,” he warns, his tone hard. “Alpha Renard will be here soon for dinner. I don’t need any issues before then.”
Mason’s smile only widens at the threat, and he gives a lazy shrug. “Whatever you say, Phoenix. We’ll be perfect little angels.”
His gaze drifts back to me, and I force myself to meet it headon, refusing to show fear. A muscle in his jaw ticks, and I know he can smell my discomfort no matter how much I try to hide it.
“Don’t worry, princess,” he drawls, taking a step closer. “We’re just here to make sure you don’t try to run off again. Can’t have our alpha’s prize getting loose, now can we?”
Phoenix shifts his stance, a low growl rumbling in his chest. “That’s enough, Mason. I mean it.”
But Mason doesn’t seem fazed. He holds my stare for a beat longer, his eyes glittering with dark promise, before finally turning away with a scoff.
“Yeah, yeah. I got it.” He jerks his head at the others. “Let’s get settled, boys. Looks like we’re in for a fun night of babysitting.”
They spread out through the living room claiming
/7
spots on the armchairs and couch like they own the place. I curl my legs beneath me, pressing back against the cushions as if I can somehow disappear into them.
Todd, of course, takes the couch. He’s on the far side of it, but only a cushion separates us, and his arm is relaxed on the back of it, his fingers close enough to brush against my hair.
Phoenix shoots me one last looka silent warning to behavebefore heading out the front door. As soon as he’s out of sight, Mason’s eyes find me again, that same cruel smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
I take a shaky breath, wrapping my arms around myself. This was exactly what I was afraid of being trapped here, surrounded by people who want to use me, to hurt me. My only solace is the knowledge that