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?"

me." Her smile brightens her whole face. "I have to say, I'm impressed. You're keeping

made of lead, but her words give me a boost of energy. "Trying to prove humans aren't completely useless

laugh

deal more with technology. I locked myself out of my smartphone once. See? Different."

originally from?" I ask between breaths, genuinely curious about her background. Most refugees don't volunteer information about their past unless asked directly. I guess Kellan and them know where

to differentiate between the packs. Maybe

I was a Westwood wolf before,

the snow, and I pitch forward with a yelp. Strong hands catch me before my face meets the ground, and it takes a second to get

to

me, her grip firm

you mean, you were a

smile plays on her lips. "I moved there after we met. I was actually on my way to visit my

snow off my pants, relief flooding through me. For a second, I thought she was some sort of defect and I was

smile vanishes. My stomach drops as I realize what I've

so sorry. I

apology, but 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

while my brain scrambles to make sense of the travel. "Wait, you were traveling between… what,

fly or drive to visit family, but some of us like to shift and run the

what?" I stop dead in my tracks, mouth hanging open. "You

sounds crazy, right? But everyone does it at least once. There's nothing like being with your wolf, feeling that freedom. Just you and

ran across multiple states?" I shake my head in disbelief. "What about food? Water? Did you sleep in the

sparkle with amusement at my endless questions. "And yes, I slept in

"Safe houses?"

supplies. Most packs maintain

this whole hidden network. "That's incredible.

her scarf against the wind. "Though nowadays, most wolves prefer cars or

strikes 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 here. Not that I have much to do with it, but—well. "I mean, are you

yes. My mate's family has certain... rights. They will