Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 340 Ava: Reunited Mates

A shimmer in the air draws my attention back to Aurum. His massive form begins to shrink and change, fur giving way to skin, until Lucas stands before me in his human form.

I don't remember deciding to move, but suddenly I'm running towards him. We collide in a tangle of limbs, holding each other so tightly it's hard to breathe. But I don't care. He's here, he's back, and nothing else matters.

"You're back," I whisper into his chest, my voice thick with emotion. "God, Lucas, you're really back."

His arms tighten around me, and I feel his lips press against the top of my head. "Thanks to you," he murmurs. "You took care of everyone. Thank you, Ava."

I pull back slightly, looking up into his face. His eyes are the same, filled with warmth and love, but there's something else there now—a depth, a wildness that wasn't there before. It's breathtaking and a little terrifying.

My gaze drifts back to the bodies laid out nearby, and a wave of guilt washes over me. "I couldn't save them all," I say, my voice barely audible. "I tried, but I—"

Lucas cuts me off, pulling me back into his embrace. "You did everything you could," he says firmly. "More than anyone could have expected. You protected our pack, Ava. You led them when I couldn't."

Kellan and Vester approach, also covered in blood, with a bleak look on their faces.

I know they need to speak with him, to update him on everything that's happened. And I have somewhere I need to be, too.

This isn't the time for our reunion.

He's Alpha.

I'm Luna.

We have jobs to do.

Lucas's embrace.

moment before he turns to his beta and delta. As they begin to speak in low, urgent

is one of organized chaos. Vanessa is at the center of it all, her entire body stained with blood and dirt. She moves from patient to patient with practiced efficiency, barking orders

treated herself at all, running straight to

says, her voice clipped. "Good, we need all

at her to take care of herself first, but I get it. A sprained ankle is bad, but it's nothing compared to the wounds of others. "What do you need

* * *

rush from one patient to another, my hands shaking but determined. I've lost

more gauze over here!" someone

supply closet, nearly colliding with a familiar face. It's the human receptionist from my first day

you go, Luna," she says, her tone respectful as she hands me a stack of gauze pads. "Is

there's no time to dwell on

her demeanor. But that's a small blip on

the night wears on, the tide of emergencies begins to ebb. The return of the evacuees helped. All the nurses and

steaming cups. The rich aroma of coffee mingles with the gentler scent of herbal tea, a little pick me up for all of us as

I take a moment to breathe. The lobby is quieter now, the frantic energy of earlier replaced by a bone-deep weariness that seems to affect

at a loss. My body aches, my mind reels from the night's events, and I'm not

a wall, looking as exhausted as I feel. Without a word, we both slide down to sit on the floor, our backs against the cool surface. Two young

methodical movements

No chatter.

No screams.

No sobbing.

did amazing tonight, Ava," Vanessa says after

to look at her, surprised by the compliment. "Me? Vanessa, I watched you work for