Filed to story: Tangled in Moonlight Unshifted Novel by Lenaleia
Taking a deep breath I force myself onto my feet, awoving a litt14
My hodu soraama in protest, but I ignore the pain as best as I can, squaring my shoulders. I meet Jericho’s gaze headon.
“I’m ready.”
And so we go again. And again. And again.
After what feels like an eternity, there’s some progress. I get a little better. Sometimes I avoid landing on my back. Every so often I manage to pop up in a decent time frame, despite Jericho complaining that I’d be dead in a real fight. I still end up on my ass more often than not, but I can feel myself improving.
Jericho seems to sense it too. His corrections become less frequent, his nods of approval more common, always interspersed with grumbling insults.
By the time he calls a halt, I can’t feel my hands or feet anymore. But there’s a sense of accomplishment thrumming through me, a pride in what I’ve achieved.
I glance over at Lisa again. Her face is flushed and sweaty as she downs a bottle of water with Kellan standing beside her, saying something.
She catches my eye and grins, giving me a thumbs up, before turning to scowl at the beta. Apparently she doesn’t like the sound of whatever he’s saving. Will those two ever get along?
“Not bad,” Jericho says, drawing my attention back to him. “We’ll make a fighter out of you yet.”
I nod, too exhausted to speak.
He tosses me a towel, and I catch it gratefully, wiping the sweat from my face.
“Hit the showers,” he orders. “We’ll pick this up again tomorrow.”
My legs tremble with every step, but I swivel and escape before he has a chance to change his mind.
LUCAS
Being away from Ava is torture, but the random photo updates from Kellan help ease the ache in my heart. And the wolf snarling in my head.
He’s pissed that we’re far from her again, logic and reasoning be damned. And if I hear one more word. about that damn dog, SeleneI don’t even know what
I’ll do.
I can feel his frustration case as we stare at the photo Kellan texted me; she’s exhausted, her cheeks red with exertion and her bangs damp against her head.
She hasn’t been wearing her glasses. Two days after her discharge, she’d complained about them making her vision blurry.
Vanessa and Dr. Beaumont are certain it’s a sign that her wolf is awakening, but Ava had taken the news in stride, asking no questions.
Her disinterest worries me; to be wolfless is a curse among our people. To know that her wolf might come?
She should be over the moon, praising the Goddess for such a blessing. And yet Ava acts as though it doesn’t involve her.
Dr. Beaumont says it’s probably a trauma response to her life in the Blackwood Pack, but I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something more to all of this.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter. As long as she’s safe and happy, I won’t ask for much more. It was hard to watch her as she lay in her hospital bed, day after day. Hard to watch as the nurses bathed her with gentle hands. Hard to watch as her cheeks thinned, even with the intravenous nutrition they’d started her on after three days.
Losing her would mean losing everything. I can’t survive in this world knowing she isn’t in it.
Simple daily activities like basic hygiene were out; no showers, and meals were only taken because Kellan would bring food and stand watch until I ate it. Lisa wouldn’t eat until I did, and I remember thinking that
Ava would kill me if her human friend starved to death because I was too sick at the thought of losing her.
Otherwise? The entire world could burn, as long as I was by her side.
Not really the best mindset for an alpha. Kellan stepped up for me, but I have a lot to deal with now.
Which is why I’m back in the Blackwood territory, daydreaming about my fated mate instead of visiting her like I want to.
“Alpha?”
Shit.
Tearing my thoughts away from Ava takes too much effort, but I focus again on the man in front of me. Vester’s mild exasperation is clear in the slight furrowing of his brow, but he maintains a professional demeanor.
“Yes?”
“The report…”
I cut him off before he can continue. “Summarize it for me.”
Vester straightens, clearing his throat. “Of course,
Alpha. We have some reports that a woman resembling the description of Jessa Grey was seen in the
Unregistered Communities to the eastern borders.”
The Unregistered Communities.
Fancy words for vampire lands.
As widespread as the shifter packs are, they do not have control over every bit of land. There are registered supernatural communities under Supernatural Committees, all who work with the packs within their vicinity. Vampires, other classes of shifters, and even rogue wolves all live in peace in their corners of the country, some in thriving cities and others in rural towns.
And then there are the Unregistered.
The rogues of the entire supernatural community, usually under the control of vampires, who see little reason to live in peace with humans.
Outside of a massive war, there’s no way to erase these communities from the world. There are too many, and vampires are too powerful. Even an alpha requires backup against a single high lord vamp.
So why would that shithead Renard work with them, with his ego?
We must erase him from our world, my wolf growls. He’s bloodthirsty enough to challenge the entire pack, seeing little benefit from saving those who watched as Ava was abused.
It’s hard not to agree with him.
I rub my brow with one finger, a heavy sigh escaping my lips. Frustration settles into my gut like a meal of spoiled fish, sending nausea through me at the thought of how much time has been wasted in our search.
“How likely is it for one of our scouts to get information from the Unregistered city?”
Vester’s jaw clenches, his eyes darkening. “We’ve lost two scouts trying, Alpha.”
A growl rumbles in my chest, my wolf’s fury bleeding into my own. Two lives, gone. Two more families left to mourn, all because of that bastard Renard.
“How the fuck has he managed to hide so well?” I snarl, slamming my fist on the table. The wood cracks under the force, splinters digging into my skin. I barely feel the sting, too consumed by the inferno of rage, molten in my veins.
That shitalpha and his loyal followers have managed to evade us at every turn, slipping through our fingers like smoke. It’s infuriating, knowing they’re out there, plotting and scheming, while we’re left grasping at straws.
“They’ve likely found powerful allies among the vampires,” Vester says, his tone grim. “The Unregistered cities are a labyrinth of secrets and danger. Even our best scouts stand little chance against their defenses.”
Shoving away from the table, I pace the room, my mind racing. Sending more scouts is a death sentence. We need a new strategy, a new approach.
“What about the other packs?” I ask, turning to face Vester. “Have any of them had any luck?”
He shakes his head. “None that they’ve reported. The Blackwood situation has everyone on edge. No one wants to risk their own people.”
I can’t blame them. The thought of losing more of my own pack members makes my stomach churn. But we can’t just sit back and do nothing.
“We need to find a way in,” I mutter, more to myself than to Vester. “We need someone on the inside,
U/B
someone who can gather information without raising suspicion.”
But who? Who could possibly infiltrate the Unregistered city and come out alive?
“Keep searching,” I tell Vester, my voice firm. “Reach out to our allies, call in every favor we’re owed. We won’t rest until we find them.”
Kill them, my wolf whispers, a murderous shadow in my mind.
Vester nods, his expression resolute. “Yes, Alpha. I’ll send word to our contacts immediately.”