Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 121 Lucas: Still Searching

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, Selene—I don't even know what I'll do.

I can feel his frustration ease 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.

best mindset for an alpha. Kellan stepped up for me, but I have a lot to deal with

back in the Blackwood territory, daydreaming about my fated mate instead of visiting her like

"Alpha?"

Shit.

from Ava takes too much effort, but I focus again on the man in front of me. Vester's

"Yes?"

"The report…"

he can continue.

woman resembling the description of Jessa Grey was seen in the Unregistered Communities

The Unregistered Communities.

for

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,

there are the

of the entire supernatural community, usually under the control of vampires, who see little reason to

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

shithead Renard

from our world, my wolf growls. He's bloodthirsty enough to challenge the entire pack, seeing

to

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

clenches, his eyes darkening. "We've lost two scouts trying,

my wolf's fury bleeding into my own. Two lives, gone. Two more families left to mourn, all because of that bastard

under the