Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 300 Ava: Present Her as Luna

How could I have forgotten, even for a moment? Lucas has lost everything—his memories, his sense of self, even his wolf. And here he is, surrounded by unfamiliar faces, hearing whispers of betrayals by his own pack.

The pack he can't remember. Can't hear.

My heart aches. How terrifying and isolating it must be, to wake up in a place you don't recognize, with people claiming to know you, to care for you, when you can't remember a single thing. The vulnerability, the constant state of wariness—it must have been exhausting.

I glance at Lucas, really seeing him now. The slight furrow between his brows, the tightness around his eyes, the way his muscles are coiled. He holds tension in every fiber of his body, carrying this burden alone, while I've been too caught up in my own emotions to understand what he's going through.

No wonder he didn't react well to me coming around and telling him all about how we're mates.

It's just noise at that point, isn't it?

I reach out, gently tapping his arm to get his attention. When he turns those intense golden eyes on me, I lean in close, my lips nearly brushing his ear as I whisper, "Vanessa can be trusted. I trust her with my life."

I feel the change in him almost immediately. The tension in his muscles eases, just a fraction, but it's there. He doesn't relax completely—I doubt he's capable of that right now—but there's a subtle shift in his demeanor.

Vanessa's eyes widen slightly, and I know she's sensed the change too. Her gaze flicks between us.

"How are you feeling, Lucas?" Vanessa asks, her voice gentle and professional. "Any lingering pain or discomfort?"

Lucas shakes his head. "No pain. Fever's gone." His voice is gruff, but not cold.

She glances toward me. "The fever came from the proximity to your mate's heat. Now that the mating mark has been applied, it shouldn't be quite so extreme. We did evacuate all unmated males once we realized her heat was approaching…"

Evacuate. Wow. It makes me sound like a natural disaster.

Though, thinking of how my heat had affected even Clayton… Okay. I get it.

been nice to get a

heads-up… on your

it fits.

makes me snap my mouth closed. How am I supposed to admit that I didn't realize my heat was coming up again? I

I lie blatantly,

gist of the

* * *

shakes her head, but lets my lie stand. "My apologies, Luna. However, as lovely as it is to see you, I'm

me sitting up a little

Lucas, who inclines his head in her

firm, sending

evacuation, but there is a little unrest among the pack. I believe it would be in our best interest to

sends a ripple of

do you mean by proclaiming my position?" I ask, my voice steady despite the flutter of

serious. "The Alpha would present you as his Luna

nod slowly. Normally, I'd imagine such an event would be a grand affair, filled with ceremony and celebration. But given the current state of the pack—displaced, uncertain, and missing far too many of its members—it hardly seems appropriate to make a

event," Vanessa continues, echoing my thoughts. "However, given our circumstances, we believe a more

worried words about potential alpha challenges echo in my memory. With

My skin crawls.

to avoid that level of

His jaw is set, tension visible in the lines around his eyes. He doesn't look pleased with

would put Ava in danger," he says, his voice low and firm. "As an official

already a target," Vanessa counters. "Everyone's aware she's your mate. This would be a great way to boost morale, and

feeling a surge of determination. His pack needs stability, needs to see strength in its leadership. And if I can provide that, even in

hand again and turn to Vanessa.

long avoiding responsibility. Putting my position in the pack in the hands of its members, wanting them to approve of me, to want me