Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 177

Chapter 177 Ava: Accepting Her Pack

During the few funeral rites Alpha Renard held in Blackwood, he spent a lot of time pontificating. Especially during the rites for his sons.

Here, Lucas says nothing. Does nothing. Only stands there, his arms crossed over his chest, as he watches the pyres burn.

The amount of human bodies decreases as they all take to their wolf forms, standing and waiting. When I glance at Kellan, I can see that unfocused look in his eyes.

Lucas must be talking through the pack link.

That's why it's quiet.

There are wolves to either side of him, and I don't recognize any of them. Then again, I know very few members of the pack.

I'd chafed over that, used it as an excuse to go to the party.

But how much effort had I made to get to know these people?

At every turn, I felt stifled by their regard for me as Lucas' mate.

Did I ever engage the wolves around me in conversation? I don't even know most of their names.

If I can't even get to know the bodyguards sent to keep me safe at the cost of their own lives…

What kind of person doesn't even try, and just complains about her lack of freedom?

If I had gotten to know them, perhaps things would be different. Instead of complaining that I couldn't go anywhere without them, maybe outings would have been fun with them. Maybe the other pack members would have seen me trying to be friends…

Ah.

All those people watching me during training take on a different meaning in my head now.

Who would welcome an aloof wolf into their midst, knowing she's made no effort to assimilate into the pack?

My whining is a sour taste in my mouth, especially knowing that some of those people have now lost their lives because of me.

injuries, I'd never once put a single one of their lives as a priority. I'd focused instead on

her ears flat against

more, and I stroke a hand over her head without

eye contact with those burning pyres and the smoke covering

once more. We cannot lose more people. I

Selene stiffens. Ava.

the bodies burning in front of us. She's staring into the forest,

What is it?

flaring as she scents the air. I'm not sure. It seems

No one here does,

I

across the clearing, his amber eyes fiery as they reflect

a warm weight, a comfort in my

until his eyes meet mine. Not wanting to cause panic with words, I jerk my thumb toward Selene, still alerting to

in the same direction with a frown, before that familiar, unfocused look hits his eyes once

wolf breaks away from the pack in

checking on it, I assure Selene, but I can hear her mental whine, as if she's struggling not to run over there

her body against my

They might focus on

isn't like every member of the pack is

larger than any of the others. His fur is so dark

vestiges of twilight fade into the oncoming night. A howl rips

wolves join in the lament until the entire area echoes with their song of grief and loss. Tears streak down my cheeks, but I make no move to wipe them away. The weight of the lives

the fires continue to burn, several wolves break

will spend the night in their wolf forms," Kellan murmurs in my ear, his

me, his amber eyes glowing in the flickering light. The bond between us pulses, and I want nothing more than to go to

a low whine escaping her. Ava, we should get in

towards the forest. Before I can even respond, Lucas bolts. His powerful legs propel him forward at a

car. Now!" Kellan barks,

sound far too vicious for a simple

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