Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 412: Ava: No Plan At All

Running away from a mysterious wolf made of shadows and dark magic is probably not the most brilliant plan I've ever come up with.

Especially when my own wolf can't keep up. And I have no idea how far I should run. Too far and I risk more participants in this deadly chase. Not far enough, and my desperate ploy might be for naught if it turns back around after eating me.

Not a pleasant thought, but the reality is that I have no fucking clue how to fight this thing.

Have we confirmed it's Ivy's wolf? I blast the thought at Selene; talking is impossible right now. Running is the priority.

I swear I can feel the creature's breath on the back of my neck, but it's at least a hundred yards behind me. My magic can sense it; it's like eyes in the back of my head. Almost. Kind of.

Likely. We can't find Ivy.

Okay, it was a long shot to hope that this wasn't Ivy's wolf, but my heart still sinks—through all the pounding—to hear the confirmation.

Her wolf seems to be corrupted in some way, but Ivy isn't. I can't just blast her to smithereens (assuming I figure out how). I might not like her, but I know she'd never approve of hurting any of us.

Her wolf might be the reason her friends are dead.

Grimoire's observation sounds almost absent-minded. He's a little preoccupied with being the brains of this operation; someone has to be, and I'm too busy trying to stay alive.

That's a terrifying prospect. One my mind automatically shies away from. I don't have the luxury of dwelling on such a horrifying possibility. If Ivy's wolf murdered her entire entourage…

My foot catches on something—a root, a rock, who knows—and the world tilts. The ground rushes up to meet my face, but training kicks in. I tuck my shoulder, roll, and spring back to my feet in one fluid motion.

"Fuck." My lungs burn. Magic might enhance my body, but it isn't perfect, and I'm not calm. My fear and panic leave my control lacking.

Focus, damn it.

Dwelling on Ivy won't help me survive this. I need a plan. A real one. Not this half-assed 'run until something better occurs to me' strategy.

Any ideas yet? I direct the thought at both Grimoire and Selene.

Physical attacks don't work. The shadow-wolf is exactly that—shadow and darkness given form. Teeth, claws, it doesn't matter. There's no substance.

Unless she wants to attack. Then my pack's blood spills.

Not yet, Grimoire admits. I'm running through different wards we can try to contain her, but I don't think we have the time to make anything usable.

Fuck. Not the answer I wanted to hear.

long since passed any usable trail, but my feet fly over the crusted-over snow instead of sinking in thanks to spreading my

sunk into a pile of snow, Ivy's wolf would have

It feels like I've been running for hours, but it's

sounds behind me; it's closer than I thought. Too close. My heart thuds harshly

before, but not with

And his wolves. And I was free and

I'm running and

magic—knows

going to have to fix that.

suggests. Shadows can't exist in pure light,

sound in the back of my

Oh. Never mind, then.

they're not

his mental voice clipped and hard. And Selene is

are

would have just stood around while I ran

fucking pissed.

saying if.

effect if he didn't sound so goddamn

snaps. Why can't you figure out a damn plan,

have every answer at hand. I have ideas, but they all require time we don't have. We need to seal the wolf and force Ivy's consciousness to take over, but Ava can't create a

Damn.

Lucas? I ask Selene, almost tripping over

the same effectiveness as Clayton, Ivy's alpha. But he's still an alpha and could at least try to force a shift on Ivy. Not sure if

No. But…

But?

silent for

I'm too far away. You'd have to hold on until

do was have Selene overpower Ivy's stupid wolf, all this running was an overly

a sealed soul, Grimoire cautions. I'm not sure your friend is

bitch.

You have about three seconds before she catches up

Fuck.

slide across the snow as I veer left, my magic the only thing keeping me from face-planting into the nearest tree. Selene, get here

a quick glance behind me leaves me with regret. It's an eerie