Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 325 Lisa: Shopping Mission (I)

LISA

The pack only has a few cars now. Nothing like the SUVs they used at the Westwood Pack; these are older sedans and a couple trucks.

The Grand Sage sits in delight in the front, while Elverly crosses her arms and scowls out the window from her side of the backseat. Kellan seems minorly irritated I gave up shotgun to the Grand Sage, but maybe it's just me projecting things.

Despite being pretty okay with giving me space, he's also clingy. I know, I know, I'm contradicting myself. It's just how things feel right now.

The gentle rumble of the car lulls me into a drowsy state as I gaze out the window. It's almost hypnotic, the way the landscape rolls by.

"How does this auto-mo-bile function without horses?" the Grand Sage asks for what feels like the hundredth time. His enthusiasm for technology is endearing, if a bit exhausting.

Kellan, to his credit, answers patiently. "It's an automobile, sir. And it runs on an internal combustion engine."

I stifle a yawn, my eyelids growing heavy. The constant questions and explanations fade into background noise as I let my mind wander.

"Why do we keep passing these cities?" Elverly's sour tone cuts through my haze. "Are none of them suitable?"

Kellan glances in the rearview mirror. "These aren't cities, ma'am. They're small towns. We're avoiding anything too close to the safe haven to maintain our cover."

The old gnome scoffs. "Humans and their excess. Calling these sprawling monstrosities 'towns'."

I turn in my seat, meeting Elverly's disapproving gaze. "Actually, these are pretty small compared to real cities. In big human cities, the buildings touch the sky."

"Humans aren't so capable."

over a

me, eyes sparkling. "Fascinating! And how

myself. "Um, they're like... vertical moving rooms? They carry people

her head. "Stairs work just

everywhere. You'd understand if you saw them. We have to build high because of the population of the cities; we've run out of space to house them. Millions of people can't share one or

whisper, her

it. "Yeah, New York City has over eight

muses. "The magical potential of such a gathering boggles

nightmare. How do they

bad. There are parks and open spaces. And the city has its own kind of magic,

observes, his eyes meeting mine in the

wanted it to be my home. To become a city

Sage nods sagely. "Home is where the heart finds peace, regardless

the atmosphere. Convenience,

"Food?"

any time of day or night. Indian, Chinese, Italian, Ethiopian... And the best pizza in the world,

Grand Sage

a flat bread with tomato sauce and melted

"You're

at all. "But seriously, the food in the city is amazing. And then there's the museums, the

trail off, realizing I'm gushing. But the gnomes are listening intently. The Grand Sage, of course, is always interested in things humans do, but

still can't fathom so