Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 171 Ava: Trusting Vanessa

Vanessa shows up before dinner, with a bag full of doctor stuff and a glint in her eye that tells me I'm not doing anything until she gets the information she needs.

So I suffer through the blood pressure, my blood being drawn and taken away by one of my new stone-faced bodyguards, of which there are at least 6, and a lot of questions she asks me every single day.

My answers haven't changed, but she still asks them.

I watch intently as Vanessa packs up her medical supplies, my mind churning with the weight of the secrets I'm keeping. With the half-baked plans inside my head. With my desperate need to save Lisa from whatever fate the Mad Prince has planned.

I wet my lips, trying to find the right words.

"Vanessa, how do you feel about keeping secrets from your mate?" The question slips out before I can stop it.

She pauses, a knowing smile playing on her lips, her eyes twinkling. "Trouble in paradise already with the overbearing Alpha?"

I glance toward the bedroom door. "Can the bodyguards hear everything we say in here?"

She looks amused. "No. Your prior Alpha had this room soundproofed."

Relief washes over me and I take her hands in mine, desperation clawing at my throat. "I have secrets, Vanessa. Secrets that I want to share with you. Most of it is stuff Lucas knows, and some are things I haven't told him yet. But I need to know whose side you're on."

Her expression sobers, her grip tightening on my hands. "Ava, I'm loyal to the Westwood pack and to my Alpha." She pauses, conflict flickering in her eyes. "But I'm also loyal to my Luna. I can't give you a straight answer on where my loyalty lies. I can only promise to act on my own judgment. However, if this endangers the pack…"

assure her, my interruption swift. "It doesn't endanger Westwood. But Lucas won't like that I'm doing things

my hands in reassurance. "I can't give you a straight answer without knowing what it

the fear of betrayal. Selene's voice echoes

right now, Selene reminds me gently. You

breath. "Selene isn't a dog. She's my

expression shifts to one of bewilderment. Her brows knit together, creasing her forehead as she processes my

her eyes flickering between me and Selene, who yawns from her spot

out of her. It's impossible. She drinks secrets for breakfast. But Lucas knows about

in Vanessa's eyes. "Oh. That's good, at least." But I can see the

talk to my mother's wolf. I want to try. The real problem is that we have to force her to renounce her

toward Selene. "And only an alpha can force a switch in pack allegiance. Even then, it's only a temporary measure.

to be in

Vanessa frowns. "Let me think this through for a moment. There has to be

if there is,

mutters under her breath, occasionally shaking her head as if dismissing ideas that don't quite fit. The sight of her deep in thought, trying to find a solution to our

beside Selene, I run my fingers through her soft fur, focusing on the sensation of her head and ears beneath my touch. It's a small comfort amidst the chaos swirling

if the human host is unconscious?" Vanessa asks suddenly, her gaze intense

possible, she admits, her voice

variables to know for sure," I

thoughtful. "And what about your

guard, and I find myself at a loss for words. Loyalty is a