Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 33 Ava: Selene's Return

Panic seizes me as I pat frantically at my neck, searching for the familiar weight of my necklace and finding only smooth skin.

Where is it? How could I have lost it?

Hurriedly, I retrace my steps, dripping water across the tile as I scour the bathroom. I get down on my hands and knees, peering under the sink and toilet, my heart pounding with rising dread. Nothing. It's not here.

Wrapping myself in a towel, I venture back into the main room, my gaze darting frantically about as I search for any sign of the missing crystal. I rifle through the sheets on the bed, tossing pillows aside as my desperation grows.

Not there.

I get the bright idea to check my pockets, but it isn't there either.

Shit.

Fuck.

I have no idea how big of a problem this is, but Selene had made it seem very important that it stay on me at all times.

I look out the window, wondering if I can convince someone to take me back to the scene of the accident to search for my necklace. Alpha Clayton seems nice, so maybe?

Selene must have had a good reason for insisting I keep the crystal on me. Both crystals. Now that I've lost one, what does it mean? Was it a protective charm? Am I no longer protected?

My steps falter as a new thread of panic works its way through me. If the necklace is that significant, does it mean I'm in danger now that I've lost it?

Selene will have answers when I find her again. She always does, cryptic as they might be. But right now, I'm panicking.

A soft rap at the door makes me jump, startled by the unexpected sound. I freeze mid-step, my heart rabbiting as the knob turns and the door eases open.

"Ms. Grey?" Nurse Jenna pokes her head inside. "I'm sorry to intrude, but I have a fresh set of clothes for you."

I clutch the towel tighter around myself. "Thank you. I just showered, so it's perfect timing."

dawns on me that I hadn't even checked for a change of clothes before showering. My brain's been defective since I got here; it's no wonder

gown that buttons up in the back, instead of gaping open. Nurse Jenna left a cup of water at my bedside and showed me how to use my call light in case

bad none of them can help me materialize

relax

try to relax in the recliner

drink

to swallow that, either.

out for Selene in my mind, meeting only silence. It's something I should be used to, after years of it—but it's

imagine life without Selene anymore, even when

It's wrong.

starts. Every few hours, a nurse comes in to check all my vitals,

energy, and I wake at sunrise feeling ever-so-slightly refreshed and

Well—maybe not the world.

ask Alpha Clayton if I can go back to the scene

just be called down to the hospital because a strange woman wants

crawling out

* * *

Ava.

my spoonful of orange jello in

have you

…can't…far…

ebbing and flowing in my mind. I'm sure she's saying so much more than I

must be too far to maintain a connection. This isn't something any other shifter could have explained to me; all their wolves exist with

blossoms, relaxing every inch of taut muscle as I lay back in

Selene is close.

how fast she can run, but it must have

after a few

can hear you, her voice whispers, and I

a hospital run by the Aspen pack. Their alpha saved me last night. I

Are you hurt?