Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 277 Lisa: Kellan

After the third time I stumble while walking, the naked shifter stares at me with a curled lip.

"Why are humans so weak?" he asks, his tone grating on my already frayed nerves.

I bristle at his words. Who does he think he is? "None of your business," I snap, surprising myself with the venom in my voice. Jericho said I do pretty well for a human, thank you very much. I'm just weakened.

I'll get back into shape and then wipe that cocky stare off his face on the mat.

Though, I have yet to have a legitimate win without any handicaps during our training spars… But a girl can dream, damn it.

The shifter's eyebrows shoot up, clearly taken aback by my sass. He peers at me more closely, his brow furrowing. "Do I know you?"

Before I can answer, he leans in, his nostrils flaring as he sniffs at me. I recoil, but he's already pulling back, a puzzled expression on his face.

"You don't have much of a scent," he says, sounding perplexed.

I catch the Grand Sage's eye, noticing a mischievous twinkle there. The bracelet must mess with my scent, too. It bolsters my courage for some reason. "That's because humans like to shower," I retort, my chin jutting out defiantly.

The shifter's eyes narrow. "You don't smell like you've showered recently."

My jaw drops. Did he really just say that? The audacity! I'm about to unleash a tirade on this insensitive jerk when a bone-chilling growl cuts through the air.

My heart leaps into my throat as a massive reddish-brown wolf emerges from nowhere, its teeth bared and hackles raised. Without thinking, I stumble backward, instinctively seeking shelter behind the naked shifter.

Bad move.

I can feel the naked shifter stiffen in front of

in the process. The naked shifter holds up

and the other shifter. Its massive jaws snap at the naked

ground, bellies pressed to the earth in submission. The air crackles with tension,

instincts are quite strong," the Grand Sage

more sense," I hiss at him, not sure if I should try to back away or stand still. Which is less likely to get the wolf's attention? It seems angry. I don't want to

sense soon," he assures me, looking for all the world as fascinated

growls again, this time turning in a swift motion to get between me and the Grand Sage, snapping impatiently

no competition for you, wolf." Unaffected by the fierce visage of a growling apex predator,

Excuse me?

wolf lets out a remarkably satisfied-sounding huff and turns to rub hard against my thighs, almost knocking me off balance. When I grab at its fur

going on?" I hiss at the naked shifter, who looks panicked by my

into his wolf form again and cowering to the ground

everyone lost their

awkwardly run my fingers through the angry wolf's fur, unsure of how to handle this situation. To my surprise, the beast seems to melt under my touch, its eyes half-closing in bliss as its tail wags. The fierce growling from moments ago transforms into a contented rumble that vibrates through my

Sage, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice. Bitterness, to be clear, that he

my dear, you will soon enough." He turns to address the wolf. "We need

lets out a loud rumble-growl, clearly displeased by the interruption. For a moment, I think it might snap at the Grand Sage, but then it heaves a heavy sigh. Before my eyes, the wolf's form begins to shift

the fur recedes, revealing smooth, tanned skin. Muscles ripple and bones realign, the

Kellan.

of his naked body. Unlike the other shifter, whose nudity had barely registered, I find myself appreciating Kellan's form