Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 271 Lisa: To Safety

LISA

Eventually, there's nothing else I can help the nurses with, and I wander back to the table. It's been hours. We came to the farmhouse in the early morning, and now it's well past noon. Aside from a few packages of crackers and some water from the sink, my belly's empty.

My stomach growls. The crackers and water did little to satisfy my hunger.

The Grand Sage speaks to Ryder, his voice low but clear. "The problem isn't with the individual phones. They're fine, but the networks are all corrupted. They aren't communicating properly. From what I can tell, it's all hacked. Someone's taken control."

"So…" Ryder takes his phone with a sigh. "It won't be fixed anytime soon."

"Correct."

The Grand Sage hands Chloe and Mia back their phones. The two women exchange a glance before leaving after a brief word from Ryder. Something about their interaction feels off, but I can't quite put my finger on it.

While the Grand Sage and Ryder continue discussing, curiosity gets the better of me. I slip outside, thankful that I'm not particularly noticeable.

A cool breeze brushes against my cheeks as I watch Chloe part ways with Mia. To my surprise, Chloe doesn't head back to wherever she came from. Instead, she steps behind a nearby building.

I frown, inching closer. What is she doing?

From my vantage point, I can see Chloe tapping away at her phone. It's strange—didn't the Grand Sage just explain that no cell phones are getting a signal? Yet here she is, acting like everything's normal.

My heart races as I watch her bring the phone to her ear. I strain to hear what she's saying, but she's too far away. I take a step closer, leaves crunching under my feet.

Chloe's head snaps up, and I duck behind a bush. When I peek out again, she's ending the call, her movements quick and furtive.

Something's not right here.

I make my way back to the farmhouse, my mind whirling. As soon as I spot the Grand Sage, I sidle up to him, keeping my voice low. "I just saw something strange," I murmur, relaying what I witnessed outside.

reported the matter to the delta," he says, his eyes

first time that Ryder's no longer here. The room

his wrist. I glance down at the bracelet he gave me earlier, confusion clouding my thoughts. What is

ask, the air is rent with shouts. My blood runs cold as I recognize the sound—a sound that's

Battle cries.

fear and adrenaline coursing

hands close around my arms, and I'm being hustled out the back door of the farmhouse. "That was

"You expected this?"

saw

the barn, our feet

All around, able-bodied shifters are

faces contorted with rage. It's like watching the

Elverly's voice snaps me back to the

the battle and focus

and Elverly flank me, their urgency palpable in the air. We

hear it. The Grand Sage's sharp intake of breath, followed by a string of muttered curses. I whirl around, my

dozen of them, racing towards us with inhuman speed. Their

Grand Sage's voice cracks like a whip, snapping me out of my terrified trance. "Into the

the familiar contraption, my hands shaking as I reach for the top hatch. It feels like an eternity before

the safe room is just as cramped and uncomfortable as I remember, but right now, it feels like the most welcoming place in

opening. Where's the Grand Sage? He was right behind

his face appear. He's panting heavily, his eyes

I can hear their snarls. They're completely feral. My whole body

going back to

dancing across buttons and levers. I don't understand what he's doing, but I pray to whatever higher

to close, agonizingly

pops over, red eyes staring into the

catches in my throat, and I squeeze my eyes shut, unable

clang as