Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 321 Ava: His Name

"Holy shit," Vanessa breathes, her eyes wide. "Is that—?"

I nod, unable to keep the smile off my face despite the gravity of the situation. It's her first time seeing my mate's new wolf form. "Yep, that's Lucas."

Vester takes in the sight of the massive golden wolf sprawled across my living room floor. "How... when did this happen?"

"A couple hours ago," I say, running my fingers through Lucas' thick fur. He leans into my touch, a low rumble of contentment vibrating through his chest. "The short version is that we finally tried to unlock his memories, and... well, this was the result. I'm not sure why he looks different now. Maybe Sister Miriam will know.

Selene? Do you?"

Hmm, is her nonresponse.

Vanessa takes a tentative step forward, her healer's instincts clearly kicking in. "Is he okay? I mean, physically and mentally?"

A slight shrug. "Physically, he seems fine. Maybe even better than before. But mentally..." I trail off, glancing at Selene for support.

He's disoriented, Selene supplies. The wolf is in control right now, but he's not feral. Just confused. Waiting for Lucas.

I relay this information to Vanessa and Vester, watching as they exchange worried glances.

"Can he shift back?" Vester asks, the surprise on his face now faded back to his usual stoic expression.

I shake my head. "I don't know. Probably not. His wolf is the one in control right now. Lucas is still healing."

Vanessa kneels beside Lucas, her hand hovering just above his fur. "May I?" she asks, looking to me for permission.

again, he was only irritated with Lisa; maybe it's the lack of pack

and Vanessa gently places her hands on Lucas' wolf body, checking him over with deft, professional movements. "He's much larger than before, but I'm not sensing any issues in his joints. It's hard to tell without a full check-up, but I'd say he might be

"You know, it's really weird to keep calling him 'Lucas' wolf' or just

her reluctance through our bond. He did, once. But that was a

prod

In our past life, when

"Aurum?"

wolf's

I repeat, more confidently this time. The wolf—Aurum—lets out a soft

name holds some significance,"

from his past life, apparently. The

exactly happened when you tried to unlock his

no. That's not from… No." Pressing a hand to my forehead, all the tidbits of information in my head take a minute

that her examination is over, taking a chair at

ears don't even perk up for this conversation, I realize she has no interest in clarifying things.

"It's just part of what makes

the dining table, his arms crossed over his broad chest. "That's Latin for gold, isn't it? Seems pretty

it? I'm not familiar with Latin. They stopped teaching it in school in my parents' generation, from

his gorgeous golden fur, I point my thoughts to Selene. Is this what he looked like in your past

Yes, she says shortly.

you

goes stubbornly silent,

don't know how the pack is going to feel about

Vester says, reaching out to brush some hair from her face. "Don't be too