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.

* * *

my knees so weak, my walk resembles

as twilight

No lights on.

No people.

signs of life

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

drive; everyone else used

clenches, twisting painfully in my gut as I see so many of them turn in

leg; Kellan hadn't wanted to bring her, but I'd insisted she

this air thick, she whispers, slinking out of the car

usually struts about with confidence, tail high and head erect… But I feel the

Like I don't belong.

Filled with shame.

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

save for the occasional mourning keen. There are no

crowd of bodies surrounding the pyres, the entire clearing

His hand rests on the small of my back,

grimly ahead, his jaw clenched. Even his weathered face,

entire mood is somber, a heaviness pressing down on

of my blind demand for independence.

All of them.

Every single one.

the clutches of a madman, but it bleeds for the dead. For the families left behind. For the pack that will never be

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

up at him. His face is a mask of stoicism, but I can see the cracks in his armor. The way his eyes shine with

voice barely audible over the soft keening of the

at me, his brow furrowed. "For

For being so selfish. For not thinking about how my

eyes. His face. In how

he turns away, staring ahead again. "It's not your fault, Ava. You didn't

in my heart,

at that party, those