Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 197 Ava: Do You Believe in the Moon Goddess?

"I don't understand. How did you know about the necklace? And this book? How did you get here?"

"Ah, yes." Mrs. Elkins sighs, reaching over to pat my hand in a familiar gesture. "Do you believe in prophetic dreaming?"

Vanessa steps forward now, her voice pitched high with incredulity. "Are you a clairvoyant, ma'am?"

"No, dear." Mrs. Elkins gives Vanessa one of her warm smiles. "But some dreams mean something. Do you believe in your Moon Goddess, child?"

The guards' growls fill the air, a group offense at being questioned on their faith.

Vanessa's stern look silences them. She turns to Mrs. Elkins, her voice soft yet resolute. "I do believe in the Moon Goddess, yes."

Mrs. Elkins reaches for Vanessa's hand, and though bewilderment flickers across Vanessa's face, she allows the contact. The old lady's eyes crinkle with warmth as she clasps Vanessa's hand in her arthritic fingers. "I'm so grateful Ava has found a friend. She was far too lonely in Cedarwood."

Her words tug at my heart, reminding me how grateful I am to have Vanessa in my corner. But Mrs. Elkins continues, her voice taking on a dreamlike quality.

"I've had strange dreams this year. One of a lonely witch, hunted by wolves." Her gaze meets mine, and I feel a jolt of recognition. "I had the same feeling when I met you, Ava. I felt drawn to help, considering the history of witches."

Her explanation of the eradication of witches makes sense now—why she'd started to answer my questions with a history lesson. "I see."

"After you disappeared, the dreams stopped. For a long time. Until recently." She pauses, her expression serene. "I dreamed of the Moon Goddess asking for my help. And when I accepted, I woke up here. In this garden."

Her words hang in the air, defying logic. How can she be so calm, so unfazed by such an outlandish claim? As if the Moon Goddess visits people in their dreams.

And yet—here she is.

Her words are truth.

every guard studies Mrs. Elkins with

one

dear. Never before. But when a

can she take this in stride? How can she have such blind belief? My instinctive reaction to learning how different I am… was much

it's some sort of blessing, something she accepts without

like this, they're rare these days. But

and goddesses

person. There are old stories of

down at her, finding comfort

knowing. "You have a lot to learn, Ava. About yourself, about your heritage. I wish I could help more,

implications I'm not ready to face. The only heritage I've ever known is that of my pack, my identity as a wolf shifter. Even a

invited into a new family. One

leather, and I feel a spark of something—anticipation,

the Moon Goddess somehow intervened, why did she take so

Why not earlier?

not teach me my powers before Lisa was taken? Before lives

that answer, either, Selene

leaving me aching for those memories of life in Cedarwood. "Everything

choose, Selene murmurs. You chose your pack and your mate. This is

Didn't you tell me I have no

her in little logical loops. That was before. This is

if I had stayed in Cedarwood… My life would be

Yes. Fate is fluid.