Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 308 Ava: Get His Memories Back

"Lucas and his team were outnumbered," Sister Miriam continues, her eyes flickering to Lucas. He remains stoic, but I can feel the tension radiating from him. "They managed to evacuate most of the civilians, but the fighting was..." She pauses, looking thoughtful. "Brutal."

I swallow hard, my imagination filling in the blanks with scenes of chaos and bloodshed. My grip on Lucas's hand tightens.

"In the midst of the battle, he pushed himself beyond his limits. He tapped into a power most alphas cannot access without severe consequences."

My brows pull together. "What do you mean?"

Sister Miriam's gaze is intense as she looks at me. "There's a reason alphas are so revered, Ava. They possess abilities that go beyond what ordinary wolves can do. But accessing those abilities comes at a cost."

I shiver at the implications of her words. "What kind of cost?"

"The deeper an alpha delves into their power, the more they risk losing themselves to their wolf," Sister Miriam explains. "It's a delicate balance. Push too far, and the human side can be overwhelmed. The human psyche is not meant for the power a Lycan wields. Not even this weakened version of Lycans you have become."

"So he…?" I glance at Lucas, who returns my stare with an impassive expression. He remembers none of this; it's like talking about a stranger.

For the first time, I'm grateful he doesn't have his memories. How traumatic it must have been.

"I'm sure your alpha had no idea what he was doing. None of you know your true heritage. But it's still a knowledge deep inside your souls; something your wolves are aware of, even if they don't realize it. He pushed himself to the brink to save his pack and the civilians. He unleashed a power that decimated his attackers, but in doing so, he nearly lost himself entirely."

I struggle to process this information.

giving me words, but they just flow

says, "Lucas was found unconscious, barely clinging to life. His physical injuries were severe,

"His memories," I whisper.

can't fathom the

Miriam nods. "In order to protect himself from being consumed by his wolf, Lucas's mind retreated. It locked away not just the memories of the attack, but everything that

wolf?" I ask, though I suspect

Miriam confirms. "It cannot be allowed free reign without Lucas' human side to temper it.

impassive through the vampire's recounting of events. Even Selene is silent in my head, leaving

at her coffee, gazing out the window

sends a flutter through my chest. But when I look

discussing the weather rather than the near-loss of his

bond between us is still,

is still insistently tugging

possess. "How do we fix this? How can we

not a simple process, Ava. The mind is a delicate thing, especially when there are two

you know of a way." I lean forward. "You

sighs, setting her coffee mug on the table. "The most straightforward method would be to trigger your memories through intense

too risky," I say, a glimmer of hope rising

Sister Miriam counters. "We don't know which memories might surface first. If the wrong memory

like a punctured balloon. "What other options do

explore. Spells designed to unlock hidden memories,