Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 351 Ava: Investigating

Don't take everyone.

"What?"

The more people, the more victims.

"Oh." Shit. I hadn't thought of that. Biting my lip, I look over my entourage. Vanessa's brows raise as she watches me, her breath puffing out in the frigid air.

They're my bodyguards, but they can't save me from something magical.

Selene's thoughtful hum vibrates in my head.

"Marcus, you and..." I scan the faces, settling on a stoic-looking wolf. I think his name is Greg. "You. Stay with me. The rest of you, I need you to be our lifeline."

Vanessa frowns. "Ava, are you sure about this?"

I nod, trying to project more confidence than I feel. "I can sense magic and familiar energies, but there's no guarantee I haven't missed something. Or someone."

The other wolves shift awkwardly, as they always do when I speak of magic. It's still an uncomfortable subject for many in the pack.

"If something goes wrong, you need to get word to Lucas immediately."

Discontent ripples through the group. I can see it in the set of their jaws, the tension in their shoulders. They don't like the idea of letting me walk into potential danger without them.

"I know you don't like this," I say, addressing the group's unspoken protests. "But none of you are able to help with a magical force. I need to make sure the pack is warned if anything goes wrong."

Marcus, ever the professional, takes over. "We'll check in with Vanessa every ten minutes. Standard procedure."

turn to Vanessa, holding up my

sync our watches. We can't

take a steadying breath. The dark, cloud-like presence I sensed earlier is a little closer now.

squaring my shoulders. "Let's

the rear, watching our backs. And Selene roams ahead, no longer

strange,

it sends small, pulsing shocks into my wrist. Not enough to affect the use of my hand or arm, but just irritating enough to keep

we reach the area where the dark, cloud-like energy

Selene can sense is a strange scent in the air, something she

existence,

my words firm. "Stay back.

form. Instead, he's a small white fox, his fur

just standing in the middle

I can sense it, just beyond

"Do you recognize this?"

don't even twitch as he stares ahead. It has a horrible feeling to

every step. As I move, the energy seems to shift, turning towards me like a flower following the

in place, but the energy continues its slow

Don't let it

can move, Selene lets

and Greg step forward, but I hold up an arm, waving them back. "Are

Something stung my nose.

scratches his ear. Be

only approximate its location through

words, but maybe she's just

ankle in a coquettish gesture. He's learned that his fox form gets him a lot more affection