Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 342 Ava: Ivy's Motives

I push the doubts aside, focusing on the task at hand. "What brings you here, Ivy?" I ask, injecting a note of authority into my voice. "Lucas mentioned you asked for me specifically."

"Always straight to the point, aren't you, Ava?"

Was I? I don't really remember our past encounters that way. It always felt as though I were dancing around her, never sure what she really thought of me.

"I just wanted to make sure you were doing well. Clayton said you would likely be with the Westwood Pack. It's been a long time, and I had no way of contacting you since you left your phones behind."

The way she speaks makes it sound as though I'd left them behind on purpose.

I push aside the nagging unease about Ivy as Lucas guides me to the table. As we sit, she takes a seat across from us, her smile still warm and inviting. It's this warmth that throws me off balance, making me question my earlier impressions.

Why does Clayton's sister have to be so enigmatic? Her brother is straightforward, his intentions clear as day. But Ivy? She's a riddle wrapped in a mystery.

"How are things in Washington?" Lucas asks, calm beside me. He doesn't seem to sense anything strange with the woman.

Ivy's face transforms, the smile fading into a somber expression. "We barely made it through a vampire attack," she says, her voice low. "It was intense. We lost many lives."

As she describes the attack, I can't help but compare it to what we faced here. The force she talks about seems almost paltry compared to the onslaught that hit Westwood. It's hard to reconcile the two experiences.

"What about the rest of the area?" I ask, leaning forward slightly. "Have there been other attacks?"

Ivy nods, her green eyes meeting mine. "Some of the larger human cities have been hit, but it's been mostly quiet on the coast. The biggest issue is communication. We can't get cell towers or internet up and running."

"How are you getting information then?" Lucas asks.

"Radio, mostly," Ivy replies. "All the news networks are basically dead. It's like we've stepped back in time."

taking in our appearances, the room, everything. "How has it been here? The closer we

to leave Wolf's Landing," he says, his voice grave. "There are hunters out there, searching for

head. "Hunters? We

you been

shakes her head. "No. We did travel by car, but the past three

looks thoughtful. "You were lucky to get here unscathed. The supernatural communities seem to be

be right. Our supernatural communities were attacked, just like our

that?" Lucas asks, his

she says simply. "When Clayton first started reaching out to see how widespread the devastation was, I volunteered

I ask,

her expression softening. "It hasn't been easy, but yes. We've managed to establish contact with several communities along the

all been attacked?"

Ivy confirms. "Some worse than others, but none have been

what Ivy's saying is true, then

us more about these attacks," Lucas says, leaning forward. "How do they compare to what

various attacks she's heard about or witnessed, I find my mind racing. The discrepancies between

cities were hit worse, without any way to fight back. Aspen, on the other hand, still holds control of

Ivy says. "Probing for weaknesses, but not committing to a full-scale

rubbing a finger against my temple as I try to think through the new

you had any contact with other packs or

"We've been focused on survival and rebuilding. The few attempts we've made to reach out

faces we've seen from outside

was so worried about all of you.

rests his arm behind my chair, and I swear Ivy's eyes follow that movement like

Aspen Pack. Seeing as your situation is more dire than ours, I can put in a request for extra manpower and some supplies, but

"We'd appreciate that."