Filed to story: Tangled in Moonlight Unshifted Novel by Lenaleia
The laugh that comes out of me is soft and breathy. “Okay. I’ll try to remember that.”
“Are you… Ava, are you jealous? There are no female shifters anywhere around me, I promise you.”
“I’m not iealous. I don’t know anyone to be jealous of”
Maybe I should ask him more questions about himself.
About his work. About his day.
He asks me, every time we’re on the phone.
It occurs to me that I’ve been demanding a lot from a man when I don’t give him much in return.
Well, there was the day you were discharged, Selene mutters in my head, still upset we did it with her in the room, pretending to sleep.
Hush.
“You can be jealous. I’ll just have to make it up to you whenever you are.”
The way his voice drops low sends a thrill straight to all the womanly parts of me that want his undivided attention. Somehow, this innocent flirtation has stepped over a line I didn’t realize was there.
Abort, abort. Not experienced enough for this.
So I laugh awkwardly. “I think Kellan is done getting our dinner ready. I’ll talk to you later, Lucas.”
“I’ll miss you every second we’re apart, Ava.”
Still with that husky voice.
“I’ll miss you too.” Somehow, I feel like something’s switched inside of me today. Like he’s entered a little deeper into the heart I’ve kept guarded.
“Ava?”
“Yes?”
“When I get back, I’m going to hug you. And kiss you. And maybe a hell of a lot more. So prepare yourself.”
“What if I s
LUCAS
I’m going to hell.
I’m going straight to hell on a VIP plane.
Pressing a soft kiss against my phone screen after Ava hangs up isn’t why.
Having a raging boner from the sound of her little laugh? That’s not why, either… exactly.
But what deranged psychopath gets hard from listening to their mate while slicing body parts off a corpse?
Granted, he’s still groaning a little, so he isn’t a corpse yet. But he’s close.
“Did you fix the chainsaw?”
“Got it working again.” Vester holds it up, its teeth gleaming wetly in the dim light. The damn sound of it starting up again had almost ruined my conversation with my mate..
I nod, tearing my gaze away from the screen, Ava’s sweet laughter still echoing in my ears. “Let’s get this done, then.”
The knife clatters onto the tray as I set it aside. I barely remember picking it up, so distracted by the sound of my mate’s voice. Her presence lingers, a phantom touch against my cheek. But reality crashes back in as I survey the mess on the floor.
I kick at his head, to the side in a glistening pool of blood. His eyes stare blankly, mouth slack. He stopped screaming a while ago, his healing abilities no match for Vester’s ruthless blade, but even so, the occasional groan comes out. He should have been dead already, but his body hasn’t realized it yet, still trying to fight the pain.
Fucking Blackwood spy. Thought he could infiltrate my borders, gather intel for that snake Renard. Not on my watch.
We aren’t usually into dismembering, but it has its place.
“What’s the plan for all these bits and pieces?” Vester asks, wiping his hands on a rag that’s more red than white.
A mirthless chuckle rumbles in my chest. “We’re going to spread Renard’s little spy all around the perimeter of the Unregistered city. Let him catch a whiff of his failure.”
Vester nods. “Sending a message?”
“Loud and fucking clear. Renard needs to know we’re on to him.” I roll my shoulders, trying to dispel the tension. It’s been a long night. Weeks, really. Ever since Ava escaped her family’s clutches, it’s been a constant game of cat and mouse, trying to find that little snake of a wolf.
And fuck, I miss her. It eats at me, being away from her. Hearing her voice, that sweet laughter… it’s a balm and a curse; soothing my ragged edges while stoking the fire in my veins. I want to be there, watching over her as she heals, holding her close. Not here, elbowdeep in some traitor’s guts.
But Ava needs her space.
And after today, I think I can finally feel the fruits of that sacrifice. She’s no longer so distant. If all it takes is letting her go to to the occasional stupid party, it’s an acceptable cost.
It was worth picking up her call, even during this mess.
Vester claps me on the shoulder, startling me out of my brooding thoughts. “I’ll get the boys to start on the distribution.”
Vester’s always been there, watching my back, ready to do what needs doing. Even the ugly shit. “Sounds good.” Hopefully Ava never hears of these sordid details, the shadowy side of the Alpha title.
If it’s up to meand it isshe’s going to live in peace.
In innocence and a beautiful world.
Not in places like this.
Vester snorts, a wry smile tugging at his mouth. “You’re thinking about her again, aren’t you? You should go, before you start writing love poems in entrails or some shit.”
A surprised bark of laughter escapes me. “Fuck off. You make me sound like a serial killer or something.” But there’s no heat in it. He’s not wrong: Ava twists me up inside, makes me want things I’ve never let myself want before.
Makes me want to be a better man. For her. For our future
I’d never considered myself lacking before. Now, knowing what pain I’ve brought into her life? I feel like the lowest scum of this earth.
She should have been free of this nightmare a long time ago. Would have been, if I hadn’t been such a fucking judgmental dick.
At least we’re finally getting to be on the same page.
Kicking at a severed foot, I curse the erection that has yet to go down. You’d think the overpowering smell of blood, metallic in the back of my throat, would be enough to keep it down.
But all I can smell right now is the smell of Ava’s unique scent. All I can see is her gorgeous face and the way she pulls her bottom lip in when she’s worried. How her face changes when she smiles. How she moans when I touch her, and…
Damn. Fuck. I’m insane.
How can I be thinking like this?
I’ve got it bad.
All it took was that little laugh of hers, to realize her walls had come down, and my body had surged straight toward memories of that hospital room and how sweetly her body had-
Fuck.
I have a problem.
Just go to her, my wolf whines. Aside from bloodthirsty tendencies, he doesn’t care about anything except Ava and Selene. He’s been somewhat soothed since we’d made love on the hospital bed, her body warm and soft and pliant beneath-
Damn it.
I have to get out of here.
Go to her. Mate her. Mark her.
No wonder I can’t stop thinking of her body. My own wolf is just a horny litany of words in my head.
“You okay, Alpha?”