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."

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

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

Greg return, their arms laden with split wood. The scent of fresh-cut pine fills the air as they stack

more?" Greg arranges the

for the night." Vanessa stirs the stew.

and heads back

long before

with the moose." He pokes his head back in. "Shouldn't take

stove, watching the flames dance through the small plastic window. "What

packing." Vanessa ladles some stew into bowls. Steam curls up from

"Won't that exhaust everyone? They've already broken trail all day, and now they have to

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

"Oh." Yeah, that makes a lot

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

leaving me comfortable. "I've never been on a winter camping trip before. For all I knew, that's how you usually do

into his bowl,

settles onto her sleeping bag with her own portion. After a second, she snorts with

stoic expression cracking makes me laugh, too. "He'd probably just give me that look. You

you've suggested something completely ridiculous but he's too polite to say so?" Her eyes

it. Unlike some people

"You mean Grimoire?"

voice bellows in my head. I am

share his response, and Vanessa