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 walk

twilight hits. The entire place is like a ghost

No lights on.

No people.

signs of

field deep in the forest, filled with people. Some are in wolf form. A few

the only ones to drive; everyone else used four paws to

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

against my leg; Kellan hadn't wanted to bring

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

about with confidence, tail

Like I don't belong.

Filled with shame.

heart sinks. Lucas hadn't mentioned that three

sound breaks the silence, save for the occasional mourning

the entire clearing bathed in the

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

jaw clenched. Even his weathered face, marked by countless scars, can't hide

a heaviness pressing down on my chest

of my blind demand for independence. How many

All of them.

Every single one.

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

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

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

I whisper, my voice barely audible over the soft keening

looks down at me,

thinking about how my choices

at me, anguish clear in his eyes. His

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

my heart,

hadn't been at that party, those vampires wouldn't have gone