Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 383

Chapter 383 Lisa: Shutting Down

LISA

"Take a shower."

Kellan's soft words distract me from the darkness inside my head.

I don't even remember leaving Ava's place, but here we are. Home. His home, but also mine.

My fingers refuse to work. The zipper on my coat stays firmly in place despite my attempts to grip it. Everything feels distant, like I'm watching someone else's hands fail at this simple task.

"Here." His hands replace mine, steady and warm. Rough and calloused. Strong. Dependable. "Let me help."

The zipper slides down with a quiet hiss. He peels the coat from my shoulders, but it's warm in here; I don't need it. There's a fire going in the wood stove already. I'm not sure if someone kept it going for us while we were gone, or if they started it when we returned.

Dark stains splash against the brown fabric, mostly from behind. Mira's blood. The sight should make me react, should make me feel something. But there's nothing. Just emptiness. I'm exhausted; all my feelings have been felt.

"Arms up."

I comply without thinking, letting him pull off my sweater. Then the thermal shirt. Another sweater. The layers fall away one by one until I'm in just a thin long-sleeve shirt that clings to my skin, damp under the arms from sweating.

"Your pants are wet from the snow."

His voice stays gentle, clinical. Like he's talking to a spooked animal. Maybe he is. I stare at my snow pants, noticing more dark patches near the knees where I knelt beside...

No. Those thoughts lead to danger. I've already spent too much time down

Lisa. You

the snow pants. Two pairs of thermal leggings. My movements are mechanical, automatic, following Kellan's quiet instructions without really processing them.

gathers the bloody clothes into a pile. Maybe they'll need to be burned. Can't

Kellan's

he reminds me. "You'll feel better once

feels warm enough in here. I don't think

of it. But I stay silent, letting him guide me toward the bathroom. My feet

started it while I undressed.

you need help?" He asks from

shake my head. The motion feels disconnected, like my body belongs to someone else.

right outside if you

white noise. I strip off my remaining clothes, slow and

as it washes away traces of blood I hadn't noticed on my hands.

the water pour over me, not really washing. Just... existing. The steam wraps around me like a blanket, and I float in

mind turns off, letting me just exist

"Lisa?"

door opens abruptly, letting in a rush of cool air. Kellan's broad frame fills the space,

You've been in here for

water pelts my skin like needles of ice. When did it get so cold?

He reaches past me to shut off

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