Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 176 Ava: Attending the Rites

Odd? How so?

Selene's soft whine catches Kellan's attention. "We'll be there soon. Will she be okay?"

It doesn't seem that he realizes the dog is not actually a dog. "She's fine."

I thought I had all my memory, but when I try to think back, everything is fuzzy. Even my own name doesn't come to mind.

My head aches at the thought of trying to unravel that. What kind of memories? From becoming a dog?

Not exactly. My past life. My identity. Many things… Things I thought I remembered. Vanessa's words sound familiar, but I cannot access the memories. It feels important.

That just sounds… Yeah. She's right. It's odd.

How long have they been missing?

Silence.

Then, I don't know. Forever.

Leaning down, I rub at Selene's head. It'll be okay. I'm sure we'll figure it out. But we both know my promise is hollow. I have no way of keeping it.

Selene whines again, resting her head on her paws as she stays beneath my chair. Ava, am I a detriment to you?

Of course not. My denial is swift and from the heart. But… I think we might make bad decisions together.

Her mood plummets; I can feel it in the back of my head. Like Lucas and his wolf, as children.

Scratching behind her ears in gentle consolation, my heart is buoyed when she leans against my touch. You have given me much strength by being here. We'll figure it out together.

Together, she confirms, but that insecure edge to her words is still there.

* * *

have my knees so weak, my walk resembles the wobbling of

it to the pack lands as twilight hits. The entire place is

No lights on.

No people.

signs of life at

forest, filled with people. Some are in wolf form. A few are naked. Others

only ones to drive; everyone else used four

clenches, twisting painfully in my gut as I see so many of them turn in our direction, surprised by

presses against my leg; Kellan hadn't wanted to

slinking

such insecure body language. She usually struts about with confidence, tail high and head erect… But I feel the same

Like I don't belong.

Filled with shame.

sinks. Lucas hadn't mentioned that three more people had died

save for the occasional mourning keen. There are no words to be

the entire clearing bathed

on the small of my back, guiding me with gentle pressure as he points or tugs me in different directions as

near Jericho, who stares grimly ahead, his jaw clenched. Even his weathered face, marked

is somber, a heaviness pressing down

my willfulness, of my blind demand for independence. How many of these deaths are on my hands? How many lives were lost because of

All of them.

Every single one.

it bleeds for

have no right to cry, not when my actions have caused so much pain. Not when I've been so focused on my own desires that

of stoicism, but I can see the cracks in his armor. The way his

sorry," I whisper, my voice barely audible

looks down at me,

For being so selfish. For not thinking

in his eyes. His face. In how his lips

Ava. You didn't cause this. We were too arrogant in

heart, I

hadn't been at that party, those vampires