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?"

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

give me

genuine laugh

are just different. You guys deal more with technology. I locked myself out of my smartphone once. See? Different." Mira

background. Most refugees don't volunteer information about their past unless asked directly. I guess Kellan and them know where they're from, but they don't tell

between the packs. Maybe Ava

a Westwood

Strong hands catch me before my face meets the ground, and it takes a second to get

impossible to move sometimes. Like

me, her grip firm but

you mean, you were a

on her lips. "I moved there after we met.

snow off my pants, relief flooding through me. For a second, I thought she was some sort of defect and I was making friends with someone who might have a questionable past. "At least

smile vanishes. My stomach drops as I realize

so sorry. I

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 happened when I ran into a group of runaways

nod, trying to look understanding while my brain scrambles to make sense of the travel. "Wait, you

returns, though smaller this time. "You can always fly or drive to visit family, but some of

what?" I stop dead in my tracks, mouth hanging open. "You ran? As in, actually ran? The

rings out across the snow. "It sounds crazy, right? But everyone does it at least once. There's nothing like being with your wolf, feeling that freedom. Just you and the wilderness, running wherever your paws take you.

shake my head in disbelief. "What about food? Water? Did you sleep in the

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

"Safe houses?"

can rest, get supplies. Most packs maintain

whole hidden network. "That's incredible. Like

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

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

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