Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 328 Ava: Scouting Parties

Vester and Vanessa pore over a map unfurled on my dining table. Our ward stone of silence has gotten a lot of good use here, keeping everything private.

"This is the city they went to, right?" Vanessa asks, tapping her finger against the thick parchment.

"Yes. It's not as large as this one," and Vester taps at a city sixty miles away, "but it's a little farther, to throw off anyone searching for us."

The healer nods thoughtfully. "There are three main interstate highways branching off here, so it's a good choice. It's likely that the others went down this highway. It'll add another hour to their drive back, but should throw off anyone in pursuit, as well. If we send some scouts this way, they might be able to pick them up."

"My thought as well," her mate agrees. "But we will have to emphasize stealth. If there are groups searching for supernaturals, they would be able to pick up their scent."

Awkwardly, I lean forward to interrupt their conversation. "What about scent blockers? Can't we use those?"

"We can," Vanessa says with a wry smile. "But we don't have many, and have no way to replenish our stock. It is better to conserve those for emergencies."

"So, our scouts are also possibly leading any intruders straight to us?"

Vester's eyes meet mine, a hint of amusement dancing in their depths. "Of course not."

His words are reassuring, but a flicker of embarrassment flushes my cheeks. I never once questioned scouts in pack lands. They've been around all my life. Now that I'm here and worried about my people, I realize how little I understand.

There's so much to learn.

But there's too much at stake for me to wallow in self-doubt.

a patient, instructional tone. "They don't simply run straight lines from point A to

he gestures to the map, using a finger to mimic what he's talking about. "False starts,

to their advantage—streams, rocky outcroppings, dense foliage. Anything that can disrupt or mask their scent. In pack lands, our scent is

square inch of miles upon miles to find the heart of the pack, even if you knew we were in the

map, "they'll even split up, creating multiple false trails before reconvening at a predetermined location. It's a constant

to find us. And this town isn't

"And we're branching out. So, that

throw them farther off the trail in different directions. At that point, we cannot have a relay in order to remain in touch with our wolves. They'll be on their own out there until they

my mind—wolves darting through the wilderness, weaving an invisible tapestry of misdirection. It's both impressive and slightly

doesn't that slow them down?" I ask,

trade-off in security is worth it. Better to arrive a bit later

my mind already racing with

thoughtful. "It varies. Some wolves have a natural aptitude for it, while others take longer to master the intricacies. But generally, we're looking at months, if not

that's not feasible

discouraged," Vester says, clearly reading the doubt on my face. "You learn

at Grimoire, who's once again in his book form,

what

mine. He

some of your magic training later. I'll show

scoff is

I'm the most powerful item

shred you with one bite. You're not as powerful as you think