Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 413: Ava: Courage From Somewhere

Reconciling this strange shadow wolf with Ivy's existence is impossible. This creepy thing can't be her wolf. It just can't be.

But my brain's denial doesn't help anyone in this situation. Especially when the eerily silent creature dives toward me with a clear intent of violence.

Grimoire's voice echoes in my head, piercing through my frozen brain.

Pure instinct throws my body to the side. Something heavy collides with my shoulder, and it feels like my arm's torn from its socket.

A sudden heat explodes around my wrist. The silver bracelet the Grand Sage had given me so long ago ignites with white-hot power. The surge rushes through my veins like liquid lightning.

And, more importantly, the shadow wolf stumbles back a step, its darkness rippling as if struck by an invisible force. Ivy's toxic green eyes widen with what looks like surprise.

My breath catches. What just—

The creature lunges again. Faster.

No time to think.

The bracelet. That's our answer! Grimoire shouts, his excitement flooding our bond as I dodge again, my brain and body finally in sync again.

Another slash of claws tears through the air where my head had been a heartbeat before. The bracelet pulses, and again the creature stumbles back.

"What the hell is happening?" I grip my shoulder, which still throbs from the impact. "What do you mean, that's the answer? What's happening? A little more detail would be helpful right now!"

It phases into reality the moment it's set to strike. Otherwise, any hit would just go right through you. That's the key.

My feet slide across the frozen ground as I dart away from another strike. The shadow wolf's claws whistle past my ear, close enough that I feel the air displacement ruffle my hair.

So what you're saying is I need to let it hit me to hit it back? My magic pulses through my limbs, lending me the speed I desperately need. That sounds like a fucking suicide mission.

note of grim humor. You can always hit and evade at the last second, if

I'm not. So.

screams where the creature struck me earlier. The bracelet pulses, once again

infinite level of

I'd love a low

I pivot away from its next attack. Where the wolf's claws struck the ground, patches of dead grass spread in perfect little

doing

Look at

magic. It's consuming the vital energy of everything it touches. It seems your jewelry is doing some damage it's trying to

than a glancing blow to my shoulder, would my arm be rotting off

focus on what you need

said than done. My brain's going

says, her words clipped

wanted her here. Now, I wish she was farther away. Once they catch up, we're back in the same situation I was

help, she insists, though I have no idea where that confidence

no other

legs, watching toxic green eyes track my every movement. I don't want to kill Ivy, but I don't want to die trying to be some sort

wolf gathers itself to spring, and I gather courage

bracelet, its metal warm

Just one more

wolf takes one step

detail. The way the shadows writhe. Those vibrant, eerie green eyes—so brilliantly

more strange, dead circles beneath the paws of

I

too calm for this moment. You have the control and power to make it

launches forward, but everything moves as if underwater. I can track each flex of its ethereal form.