Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 349 Ava: Daily Life

Once all the refugees are settled in, I spend time checking on the laundry. In the winter, it's an effort to get done, but we now have several hand-pump wells located in strategic areas around the compound, making it a little easier.

The biting cold nips at my cheeks as I make my way to the laundry area.

"Good morning, Luna Ava," a chorus of voices greets me as I enter.

I smile, nodding to each of them. "Good morning, everyone. How are we doing today?"

My eyes land on Tess, her gray hair pulled back in a tight bun. Her stern expression softens slightly as she meets my gaze. "Luna, we're managing. These new refugees have doubled our workload."

"I'm here to help," I say, rolling up my sleeves. "What needs doing?"

Tess points to a pile of sopping wet clothes. "Those need wringing out and hanging. Mind the cold—it'll freeze your fingers if you're not careful."

I nod, grabbing a bucket of wet clothes and get to work, in tandem with another she-wolf. She's newer, a refugee from the Twilight Ridge Pack.

"How are you settling in, Mara?" I ask her.

She gives me a shy smile. "It's different, Luna. But good. Everyone's been so kind."

"I'm glad to hear it." Once the clothes are wrung, we head outside to hang them, where they'll freeze on the line and slowly evaporate until they're dry. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

We work in companionable silence for a while, the only sounds the snap of fabric in the wind and the occasional grunt of effort. My fingers are numb, but I keep going. These clothes need to dry, and every pair of hands helps.

"Luna," Tess calls, "could you help gather the frozen clothes? They're nearly dry."

I nod, moving to the lines where stiff, icy garments hang like bizarre winter decorations. It's a strange sensation, peeling them off the line. They crackle and crunch.

"Where do these go?" I ask, arms full of frozen clothes.

the wall. "Sort them by size on those shelves. These aren't for

I chat with the other she-wolves,

doing, Sarah?" I ask, folding a tiny pair of

like a weed, Luna. He's already trying to shift, but we tell him he's still got a few years left before

The she-wolves speak of their mates, their children, the latest pack gossip. I listen, soaking it

* * *

hung, I stretch my aching muscles and head out of the building. While laundry might seem like a simple task, it's rougher

out the biting air, I find myself longing

seen Lucas?" I

Ava. Left a few

"Of course he is. We've barely

Selene replies, her tone sympathetic. Would you like to check the perimeter? It might help

Yeah, I guess. Any news

group returned a while ago. No

tugs at my lips. "That's good to hear. Vanessa must be happy

selecting five wolves I trust. Well—really, I grab Marcus and let him choose the other four. But his trust

to see Vanessa approaching, bundled

I join you? There are some herbs to the northeast I'd

off guard. "Herbs? In

amusement. "Winter plants, actually. They're quite useful for certain remedies. Humans have little benefit,

side, I can't help but feel a sense of peace despite the biting cold. The crunch of snow beneath our feet creates a rhythmic melody, broken only by the occasional whisper of wind

out? Grimoire's sleepy mental voice

coloring my

carrying a hint of

at how far out they've been placed now. It's a testament to my growing strength, I suppose, but it still feels surreal. It takes me

breaks through my musings. Ava, do you remember the

my brow, caught off guard by the question. "You haven't really taught me anything about it. Just that wizards put their excess magic into their