Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 313 Ava: What Do You Think I Should Do?

Grimoire's presence inside of me is unfazed after his revelations from the morning. I swear his book form even looks cheerful, sitting there on the table.

You seem worried, Selene says, sounding distracted.

"I am. I still don't agree with Grimoire."

About the summoning?

"Yes. Wouldn't you know if you were summoned?"

I suppose. Selene goes quiet for a bit, before asking, How does Lucas feel about it?

Lucas.

He's standing by the window, watching the light rain drizzle across our world. The soft patter of droplets on glass is the only sound outside of my voice. Sister Miriam and Vester left a while ago, leaving us to contemplate our next move. Lucas hasn't spoken since they departed, his thoughts as opaque as the cloudy sky outside.

"I don't know."

He seems ambivalent to the idea of summoning his wolf, but I can't blame him.

After dropping the bomb of Selene's alleged summoning—though she denies it—he did mention the possible negatives.

While Lucas would not lose his sense of self, he might lose his wolf. Like me, he would exist as a human. But unlike me, he wouldn't have magic to bridge that supernatural gap.

No healing. No strength. What would happen if he were challenged then?

Is it any better than now?

His wolf would be strong, but can an Alpha survive without his internal wolf? Would the pack accept that?

against the broad expanse of his back.

in the

mine where they rest on his stomach. His touch is warm, familiar,

of his scent fills my lungs,

breaks the silence, low and rumbling. I

do? The options before us are all shit,

weren't for the state

it weren't for the

have more

we wouldn't be forced into

I've learned so many times, life isn't

admit softly. "There's so much at

fingers tighten slightly over mine. "Tell me what

the weight of the world in it,

I worry that you would feel as if you were living

how it feels

has changed my world, but it's still different from the bond any normal shifter has with their wolf. Distance can create emptiness within our bond. And—scariest of all—I can

and

I worry about what that would mean for you as Alpha. Would the pack accept

remains silent, but I can sense him

"And selfishly, I miss you. The you who remembers our

golden eyes searching my face. "I feel that connection with you," he says softly. "Even without the memories, there's something right about being with you. It's here." He taps his chest, then mine. "Something inside

"I feel

my face in his hands, his touch gentle. "But this isn't just about us. I

nod, leaning into

you regret that we are not one body?

imagine not being able to touch

the same