Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 409 Ava: Warnings

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me."

My food goes from delectable to soggy cardboard as my heart drops.

This isn't good. Book, what's happening?

Something's triggered the wards. Every single one. But it's strange; I can't sense anything.

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My chair scrapes against the floor as I bolt up. The wards alarm through my head, discordant and jarring enough to nauseate me. My breakfast sits abandoned as my feet carry me through the door; Elverly shouts something, but my senses are too busy with the racket in my head.

"Luna?" Brett asks, but I'm already running.

They all follow without another word, but my mind's tuned inward, my magic reaching out to the bright beacons of my wards. It isn't like a net that encompasses everything in the area, but direct lines; I wish I had the ability to sense everything like a net right now, though.

That's the thing about power. It's never enough.

"I can't feel what triggered them. Every ward at every site is going off. That can't be possible."

Neither can I, he replies. The magic feels strange. But going to investigate will be dangerous.

Whatever this is—it's clearly part of someone's plan.

"Not investigating isn't really an option, though." We have to know what's happening out there.

Snow whips past my face as I sprint toward my cabin. The familiar path stretches endless before me, my lungs burning with each frozen breath. My guards' footsteps thunder behind me, but I don't slow down.

Selene, I need Vester, Marcus, Greg, and Kellan at my cabin now.

On it. Vester left with Lucas last night, though.

Damn it.

my coat as I head straight for my closet. My fingers

wards continue their silent screaming in my head, but my magic keeps

mean nothing's there; it just means it's beyond my ability

figure anything

concrete. It's

"Is it the taint?"

At least, not that I can

what I thought,

on my

pushes the door closed, his eyes sharp despite his breathlessness. He's

I check my boot knife. "All of them triggered at once.

not going out there." Kellan's grim words halt my movements for only half a

knife strap. "These are my wards. You

why you need to stay put." He steps forward, radiating all the intimidating aura of an alpha. It isn't as strong as Lucas, or even Selene. But it's enough for me to know he's serious. "Think about it,

on the buckle. "Or a large-scale

it, Ava. Would they spread their forces that thin? Someone's trying to entice you out of your safety net. I'll send

hits hard, but my instincts scream to protect what's mine.

soften. "We're trained for

already know a harsh truth I don't want to face. If there's something

want lives on my

back frustration. "How

jaw tightens. "They wolfed it to cover

knot forms in my stomach. For something like this to

That's how I know they're out of

reach Aurum either, Selene adds, her

in my stomach turns to ice. "Kellan, check if Vanessa can contact

his face slack as he reaches through the pack bonds for the healer. After a

watch." My voice sounds hollow to my own ears. "Maybe you can reach Lucas that

here." Kellan shakes

Fuck.