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.

can feel the naked shifter stiffen in front of me, his muscles tensing beneath

shifter holds up his hands once I've been sacrificed, a look of fear

wolf bounds forward, placing itself between me and the other shifter. Its massive jaws snap at the naked man, a growl so loud it drowns out everything

to the ground, bellies pressed to the earth in submission. The air crackles with tension, and I find myself frozen in place,

strong," the Grand

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 be within

me, looking for all the world as fascinated as a woman sucked

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

wolf." Unaffected by the fierce visage of a growling apex predator, he gestures

Excuse me?

me off balance. When I grab at its

I hiss at the

look at me!" he snaps, before shifting into his wolf form again and

everyone lost

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

voice. Bitterness, to be clear, that he was willing to sacrifice me off to a rabid

can't figure it out now, my dear,

I think it might snap at the Grand Sage, but then it heaves a heavy

skin. Muscles ripple and bones realign, the wolf's body stretching and

Kellan.

nudity had barely registered, I find myself appreciating Kellan's form with a reverence that surprises me. My gaze travels from his