Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 356 Ava: Blizzard

As it turns out, I don't get a chance to talk to Lucas that night.

Or the next one.

Or even the one after that.

A surprise storm blows in, stranding Lucas—and a small team of scouts—several hours from the compound, on what should have been a simple evening run. He's been taking groups of younger wolves out at night in what he calls field training.

Thankfully, we still have contact with each other, even if it is limited. It's never fun to be separated. With as much time as we've spent apart, we both do our best to make sure we spend a little time with each other daily.

Not having him around leaves me a little depressed, but knowing he's safe with the younger wolves makes our brief separation at least bearable.

No, not having Lucas around isn't the problem setting my teeth on edge.

She's at it again, Selene observes sourly, nosing through the kitchen.

I watch Elverly bustle around the kitchen, her tiny form a whirlwind of frustration. The gnome's grumbling grows louder as she yanks open cabinets and slams them shut.

"Look at this." She waves a wooden spoon toward the freezer, which is now almost empty, and the empty shelves of beans. "Three days of that beanpole demanding more protein. Does she think food just appears out of thin air?"

Elverly's rants are almost legendary among the kitchen staff. For a tiny gnome, she has a laundry list of complaints. Today, however, they're valid.

simple three-day blizzard, our

had a stocking run last week." She kicks a pot out of her way, the clang echoing

know not everyone is falling for Ivy's

to carry around, I speak as calmly as I can. Sometimes you just have to let Elverly be angry. She's more bark than bite. "I promise I won't let Ivy mess with your

tension easing. "I need to prepare for lunch. After three days of stew, I think we'll

"That sounds great."

and banging, I turn to Selene, who's crammed herself into a corner to avoid getting

twitch, and she slinks out of the corner to follow me out the door. She's in the main lodge, cleaning up. Now that the refugees are returning to their tents, it's a bit

her authority a few times, but not usually with any level of consequence. Now I'm

isn't my strong suit. I'm better now, getting more comfortable with giving orders and being an authority figure, but Ivy

you need help with?" I ask, turning back to

that walking tree out of my kitchen. I can put together the

help but chuckle at her description of Ivy. "Okay. I'll see what we can do with the hunters." Meat is scarce in the winter, but it isn't impossible to get what we need. "For now, let's try

nod from Elverly, I head out of the

of wolves shovel trails to tents and clear snow from entrances;

of the tents are almost buried on the outskirts of the compound,

huddle deeper into my heavy coat, grateful for its warmth as I trudge along the shoveled path toward the main lodge.

mate. I have authority here, even

under my breath, steeling myself for the confrontation

her perfect features always looking reasonable, with that strange smile on her face. I grit my