Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 377 Ava: A Terrible Loss

The smell is everywhere. Blood. So much blood it pierces through the crisp winter air, making my stomach turn. The pristine white landscape ahead is no longer—violent arcs and puddles of blood mix with churned patches of snow, depicting the aftermath of battle.

The sled slows as we approach. There are a few unmoving wolf bodies on the ground. They aren't ours.

Except one, further off, surrounded by Lisa and the others.

"Lisa!" My voice cracks as I jump off the sled and rush toward my best friend. She sits motionless, the head of our fallen wolf in her lap. "Are you okay?"

It must be Mira she's holding.

My guards fan out around us, creating a protective circle. Vanessa rushes to the nearest injured wolf, her medical supplies already in hand. Not sure what she can do for what's clearly a broken leg, but this is her field of expertise.

Mine is… well, I don't know.

First, checking on Lisa. Then, figuring out what the hell we're going to do.

"I'm fine." Lisa's surprisingly calm, but it doesn't seem right. More like she's detached from reality. There's no emotion, no sense of self in her words. Lifting her arm, where her brace glints in the light, she says simply, "She didn't stand a chance."

Who? Mira?

Another betrayal?

No. Selene's voice is clipped and tight. These ashes were a body once.

Oh.

So Lisa…

Killed them.

Good riddance.

Yes.

something wrong, because Selene seems

sure yet, but they

pulls from the sled, watching

Lisa's shoulder with a gentle squeeze, I slip by her to kneel beside the ash pile. Strange magic tingles across my skin. The residual energy almost makes my teeth ache. Is it from

Marcus stands near Kellan.

his deep voice carrying easily. "We aren't in shape

that we're uninjured and we

"What does Lucas say?"

on

the ashes, I change the subject to what's bothering me the most. "This wasn't a wolf, was

who's just stroking Mira's head, oblivious to what's happening around us. "She

name I've pushed to the back of my mind since Lisa's return, buried under

he been searching for her this entire time?

Damn it.

it's unlikely he would have found you since you learned to shield your powers. But I don't think this

"A thrall?"

don't smell vampire, Selene confirms. Just blood

child form, crouching to examine the ashes. "Blood magic lingers past death.

be

does he have? Do you know,

"I don't know. He apparently collects them like toys, but they don't survive long. I was lucky, because he was out looking for another one. No idea if he found

Miriam might know, but she's

from her in months. I don't even know

her own world. My knees sink into the snow beside her, but she doesn't