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.

* * *

so weak, my walk resembles the wobbling of a cooked

the pack lands as twilight hits. The entire place is

No lights on.

No people.

of life

until we make it to a large field deep in the forest, filled with people. Some are in wolf form.

only ones to drive; everyone else used

see so many of them turn in

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

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

never seen her with such insecure body language. She usually struts about with confidence, tail high and head

Like I don't belong.

Filled with shame.

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

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

the

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 leads me through the throng of

his jaw clenched. Even his weathered face, marked by countless scars,

heaviness pressing down on my chest until it's

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

All of them.

Every single one.

trapped in the clutches of a madman, but it bleeds for the dead. For the families left behind. For the pack

right to cry, not when my actions have caused so much pain. Not when

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

barely audible over the soft keening of the

me, his brow furrowed.

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

me, anguish clear in his eyes. His face. In

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

in my heart, I recognize

party, those