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.

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

corrupted form. I grit my teeth and push harder

to change. The pain in my arms intensifies as I

surge of magic, and the last of the corruption dissolves into pure

instantly, helping

my tingling fingers. "That one was stronger

boot. He's the most curious of them all when it comes to magic. "We should head back. You've already purified three spots

struggle to my feet, legs shaky. "I can feel

Marcus's tone carries

leave these spots, the more they spread." I tuck my hands back into my gloves. "I can

we change direction. It's eerily silent—no birds, no small animals. Even the

alarming rate. I'm not going to

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

just as potent. I kneel in the snow, bracing myself for another round of cleansing. At least this time it hasn't settled into the ground. It's always harder

familiar now, though no less painful. Draw up

time I finish, my whole body trembles with exhaustion. Marcus has to practically carry me as we start the trek back

more excursions today," he says firmly.

argue. I feel depleted, stretched thin from hours of purification, even as

that we're not clearing these spots fast enough. Every day we find more pockets of corruption, spreading like a disease through

vigilant as we make our way home, their ears pricked for any sign of those increasingly aggressive rogues. So far we haven't encountered any,

says quietly as Wolf's Landing comes

settles deep in my bones. "But tomorrow we'll need to check the northern border. I sensed some dark energy

well as I do that we

muscles lock up and I push away from Marcus,

trail behind her, along with a young Westwood. I recognize his face but

words come out clipped despite my

was a small issue with some of the newer batch of wolves Delta Thorn brought in." Ivy clasps her hands in front of her.

that. Though I'm curious