Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 371 Lisa: Mira

LISA

Early morning is a bitch.

I've never really been lazy, exactly. Having to wake up early isn't something that usually ruins my day. But there's a huge difference between waking up in your apartment and driving to work or school, and waking up in the middle of your strange werewolf compound, dressing yourself in a thousand layers to keep warm, and leaving before the sun even rises—to spend hours trudging through snow.

Living out here gives me a hell of a lot more respect for those social media homestead influencers I've watched. It used to be vague fun to watch them make bread from scratch and gather their own milk while eating something I picked up from a drive-thru on the way home.

Living this life is…

Well.

It's definitely a different experience.

And I don't hate it. Most days.

But this morning, I'm seriously regretting begging Kellan to bring me along

Snow crunches under my boots with each labored step. My thighs burn, but I keep pushing forward, following the path Kellan's long legs have carved through the deep drifts. The sled he's dragging behind him mocks me, bouncing along behind him like it's nothing.

No way am I sitting in that thing.

My breath comes out in harsh puffs of white vapor. The cold air stings my lungs, but I maintain my steady pace. Sure, I complain about the ungodly hour and arctic temperatures, but that doesn't mean I'm going to wimp out.

It was my idea to come here. I need to prove I can handle it.

A flash of movement catches my eye as one of the refugee she-wolves pulls up beside me. She matches my plodding pace with effortless grace, barely breaking a sweat despite the freezing temperature.

"You're doing amazing," she says, her voice warm and encouraging. "Most humans wouldn't even attempt this."

"Thanks." I recognize her heart-shaped face and copper-colored curls from the newcomers who arrived last week. "Mira, right?"

her whole face. "I have to say,

like they're made of lead, but her words give me a boost of

genuine laugh

You guys deal more with technology. I locked myself out of my

don't volunteer information about

differentiate between the packs.

I was a Westwood

Strong hands catch me before my

these thick layers make it impossible to move sometimes. Like a

okay?" Mira steadies me, her grip firm but

do you mean, you were a Westwood wolf

was from Silvermoon." A soft smile plays on her lips. "I moved there after we met. I was actually on my way to visit my parents in Westwood

For a second, I thought she was some sort of defect and I was making

the words leave my mouth, her smile vanishes. My stomach drops as I realize

God, I'm so sorry. I didn't

her eyes have lost their sparkle. "I was one of the lucky ones. I wasn't anywhere near the cities when the attacks happened. My mate bond disappeared, and I found out what

understanding while my brain scrambles to make sense of the travel.

to visit family, but some of us like to shift and run the whole way

my tracks, mouth hanging open. "You

your wolf, feeling that freedom. Just you and the wilderness,

you just... ran across multiple states?" I shake my head in disbelief. "What

sparkle with amusement at my endless questions. "And yes, I slept in the woods. Though sometimes I'd

"Safe houses?"

rest, get supplies.

network.

against the wind. "Though nowadays,

me. "If you're from Silvermoon, why aren't you heading there now? Shouldn't you be with your pack? Or—dammit, that doesn't sound right." I sound like a buffoon. A mean-spirited one. I don't want her to think she isn't welcome

smile dims. "I will have to return, yes. My mate's family has certain...