Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 370 Ava: Moose

Marcus pokes his head through the tent flap. "Taking the sled to pick up the firewood." His breath clouds in the cold air. "Greg's got a good pile going, but it's too far to carry."

"Be careful out there." The words slip out before I can stop them. He's more than capable of handling himself, but after everything we've seen lately, caution feels necessary.

He nods once before disappearing into the growing darkness. The runners of the sled scrape against packed snow as he moves away from camp.

The percolator starts to bubble, filling the tent with the rich aroma of coffee. My stomach growls. Trail mix and jerky only go so far.

Through my bond with Selene, I feel her satisfaction. Whatever she's tracking, she's getting closer. Her excitement bleeds into my own awareness, making it hard to focus on the mundane task of stirring the stew.

"The others seem to have found something good," Vanessa says, noticing my distraction. "Selene, too?"

"She's on a trail." I add another piece of wood to the stove. "Fresh tracks in the snow. Are they hunting together?"

"No. She must have found something else."

The tent grows warmer as the stove works its magic. Between the heat and the smells of coffee and stew, it's a lot cozier than I thought this experience would be.

Another howl splits the night, closer this time. Victory rings in that sound—they've cornered their prey.

"Sounds like we might have fresh meat after all," Vanessa says, already pulling out extra cooking supplies.

The percolator bubbles faster now, coffee nearly ready. I breathe in the steam, letting it chase away the lingering chill in my bones.

"What did they catch?"

"Moose."

quick hunt for a moose." I've long since gotten over my shock that we even have moose around here. Aside from hearing a few comments about how strange it is that they're around so early in the year, I've learned they've always been part of the hunting season. For some reason, I thought they

"It was stuck. They got lucky once they tracked it

flap rustles as Marcus and Greg return, their arms laden with split wood. The scent of fresh-cut pine fills the air as they stack the logs near

Greg arranges the pieces with

we need for the night." Vanessa stirs the stew. "Just pile the

and

isn't long before

head back in. "Shouldn't take long with this many hands.

he leaves. I add another piece of wood to the stove, watching the flames dance through the small plastic window. "What are we going to do with an entire moose worth of meat?" I'm no expert, but

the packing." Vanessa ladles some stew into bowls. Steam curls up from the thick broth. "We'll have to reorganize everything, but

broken trail all day, and now they have to haul

laugh rings through the tent. "I'm teasing, Ava. The hunting team will come by in the morning to collect most of

Yeah, that makes a lot more

we'd try to haul an entire moose around?" She

stew warms me from the inside out, leaving me comfortable. "I've never been on a winter camping

bowl, but doesn't

Vanessa settles onto her sleeping bag with her own portion. After a second, she snorts with laughter. "Though I'd love to see Marcus' face if

Marcus' usual stoic expression cracking makes me laugh, too. "He'd probably just

ridiculous but he's too polite to say so?"

he's diplomatic about it. Unlike some people I

"You mean Grimoire?"

my

response, and Vanessa