Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 364 Ava: Spreading Contamination

The next week is busy.

Reports of scouts encountering aggressive rogues. Even angry humans, armed with guns.

Three wolves are lost in the resulting skirmishes, and several are injured. While many heal within a day or two, some have spent the rest of the week in our hospital. Not all wolves heal quickly.

The snow crunches under my boots as I trudge forward, my breath visible in the frigid air. Marcus and Greg flank me in their human forms while five other wolves circle our perimeter, their thick winter coats blending with the snow-covered landscape.

"There's another pocket ahead." My voice comes out raspy from the cold. "About fifty yards to the right of that fallen pine."

Marcus nods, his dark eyes scanning the treeline. "Same protocol as usual?"

"Yes. Keep your distance when I start the purification."

The taint feels different today—heavier, more viscous. Like tar seeping into the earth. Each step closer makes my skin prickle with unease.

It's been getting worse.

"Ready?" Greg asks, positioning himself just behind me.

I pull off my gloves and stretch my fingers. The cold bites into my skin, but I've learned that direct contact makes it all easier. "As I'll ever be."

The wolves spread out in a wider circle as I approach the contaminated area. No vegetation grows here—just dead, blackened earth in a perfect circle. The taint didn't affect the surrounding area at first. Lately, it's as if it's eating into the earth itself. Before, it was like an invisible cloud living above ground. Now, it's like it's fusing into everything.

The ground. Trees. Every living being that passes through it. Even squirrels seem to have gone mad.

We've had to be careful hunting; I have to look over all the game our hunters bring home. There's no idea what will happen if we ingested corrupted meat.

Drawing in a deep breath, I press my palms against the frozen ground. The taint immediately responds, writhing beneath the surface like a living thing. It fights me as I draw it up through the soil, into my hands.

Pain shoots through my arms, sharp and biting. The alien darkness is strange and hostile, fighting me every step of the way. My magic pushes back against it, trying to transform the corruption into pure energy.

from several feet away. "You've got this." Of course, he doesn't understand any of it.

taint resists, clinging to its corrupted form. I grit my teeth and push harder with my magic, forcing it to

begins to change. The pain in my arms intensifies as I convert more of the

of the corruption

at my side instantly, helping me sit up. "You

flex my tingling fingers. "That

curious of them all when it comes to magic. "We

shaky. "I can feel another pocket about

Marcus's tone

spots, the more they spread." I tuck

we change direction. It's eerily silent—no birds, no

an alarming rate. I'm not going to be able to keep

is silent in my mind. I no longer need his guidance to purify. He's been deep diving, trying to figure out ways to help that are more efficient than

spot nestled between rolling hills. This one is smaller than the others, but the energy feels just as potent. I kneel in the snow, bracing myself for another round of cleansing. At least this

though no less painful. Draw up the taint. Channel

whole body trembles with exhaustion. Marcus has to practically carry

more excursions today," he says

thin from hours of purification, even as

I can't shake the nagging worry that we're not clearing these spots fast enough. Every day we find more pockets of corruption, spreading like a disease

way home, their ears pricked for any sign of those increasingly aggressive rogues. So far we haven't encountered any, but the

good work today," Greg says quietly as Wolf's Landing

on Marcus as fatigue settles deep in my bones. "But tomorrow we'll need to check the

well as I do that we can't afford to leave any of these

chestnut hair catches my eye as several people head toward us. My muscles lock up and I push away from Marcus, determined to stand on my own. No way am I letting

closer. Three Aspen wolves trail behind her, along with a young Westwood. I recognize his face but don't remember his name. Her perfect face creases with concern as she looks me over. "Are you alright? You look

The words come out clipped despite my effort to keep them

clasps her hands in front of her. "Nothing major—just some confusion about sleeping arrangements.

that. Though I'm curious why you didn't