Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 331 Ava: Wes

The new wolf turns, and I feel a flicker of recognition. I know him from somewhere, but his name escapes me. He jogs over, a friendly smile on his face. Young. Really young. A little scrawny compared to the others, but broad-shouldered and tan.

Tousled blond hair.

"Hi Luna, I'm Wes. Follow me."

As we start walking, I try to place where I've seen him before. "How are you doing, Wes?"

He shrugs, his smile fading slightly. "It's been rough for everyone, but we're managing."

I study his face, trying to gauge his age. He's barely more than a kid, judging by the patchy scruff across his face. "If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?"

Wes glances at me and laughs. "I'm sixteen."

My eyes widen in shock. "Sixteen," I repeat, my voice soft. Yet he's wearing tactical clothes similar to those my guards wear.

He nods, then adds, "We used to train together under Amara."

That's why I recognize him. Memories of those group training sessions flash through my mind, and I feel a pang of guilt for not remembering him sooner.

"You're a lot different from what the rumors said," Wes comments, pulling me from my thoughts.

I raise an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. I knew there were rumors, but no one's been willing to repeat them in my presence. "Oh? What kind of rumors?"

Wes looks sheepish for a moment. "Well, I used to believe you were just a filthy Blackwood, manipulating the Alpha. That you didn't have a wolf and were utterly worthless." He rushes to add, "But that changed when I watched you training. You worked harder than anyone."

Perhaps not all those eyes I felt on me during training were filled with suspicion or derision. Maybe some, like Wes, were watching with growing respect.

over me as I once again realize how prickly and defensive I've been. How many

breaking the silence that had fallen

reply, grateful for the change

"It's pretty cool that our Luna has a separate wolf. It's all anyone's been talking about

But Wes's enthusiasm is infectious,

I agree, trying to keep my tone light. "But tell me more about

"One day I'm worrying about training and school, and the next we're running for our lives. But..." He straightens his shoulders, a determined look in his eyes. "I want to help. I

before Wes speaks up again. "We're almost there. The storage

me in relative luxury compared to the others. Not that sandwiches are particularly luxurious in normal times,

me the way, Wes. And thank you for being honest with me. It means

* * *

no

beans and rice, cans of tuna, and several jars of peanut butter and jelly. There's flour and sugar, but no other

with Pop-Tarts, with a simple paper taped to it saying "Only For Children." Only a

"Is this all?"

meager, but we do have people going out to hunt. There's a small vegetable garden, and we're making a greenhouse to extend our yield as long as possible." Wes points at a

"I see."

stomach twisting. It's sobering

people most worried about

storage area before settling back on me. "Well, Luna, there's a lot of concern because Alpha hasn't been around much lately. But honestly, most of the stress is about food and making sure the kids will be okay

"How are people coping?"

day by day," Wes says with a

I consider my next question. "Wes,

struggle playing out in his eyes. Slowly, he lowers

but I press on. "Are