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

to the pack lands as twilight hits. The entire

No lights on.

No people.

signs of life at

in the forest, filled with

only ones to drive; everyone else used four paws to

so many of them

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

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

insecure body language. She usually struts about with confidence, tail

Like I don't belong.

Filled with shame.

eighteen pyres, and my heart sinks. Lucas hadn't mentioned that three more people had

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

the entire clearing bathed in

close to my side as we make our way to the back of the crowd. His hand rests on the small of my back, guiding me with gentle pressure as he points or tugs me in different directions as he

a place near Jericho, who stares grimly ahead, his jaw clenched. Even his weathered face, marked by countless scars, can't hide the sorrow etched

is somber, a heaviness pressing down on my chest until it's hard

of so much loss, I'm hit with the price of my willfulness, of my blind demand for independence. How many of these deaths are on my

All of them.

Every single one.

of a madman, but it bleeds for the dead. For the families left behind. For

when my actions have caused so much pain. Not when I've been so focused

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

my voice barely audible

looks down at me, his brow

For being so selfish. For not thinking about how my choices would affect everyone

clear in his eyes. His face. In how his lips curve

ahead again. "It's not your fault, Ava. You didn't cause this. We were too arrogant in

my heart, I recognize the

that party,