Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 427

Chapter 427: Lucas: Follow the Trap

LUCAS

For Ryder's scent to be so crisp, he should be in range for a pack link.

And yet there's nothing when I try.

More evidence it's a trap.

We follow the original trail. There's always a chance I'm wrong, and it's really Ryder. If it is, though, he's in a better situation than Jericho to survive.

Choices. It always comes down to choosing. The hardest part of leadership.

My pack falls into line without question as we continue our pursuit of the attackers.

The original trail weaves between snow-covered pines. The tracks continue to lessen, until it seems as if only one of them remains, but each step is heavy in the snow. Jericho's drag marks persist, but at intervals, as if he's carried at some times and pulled along at others.

But then, after another mile of tracking, it all stops.

Vester circles the area where the trail ends, agitation swishing his tail. There's nothing. Not even a lingering scent.

The growl that vibrates my chest comes from Aurum; my brain's too busy processing what we're seeing. Check the perimeter. Twenty-yard radius.

My wolves spread out, methodically searching every inch. They examine trees, rocks, anything that could hide a clue. The sound of their movements only emphasizes the unnatural silence that's fallen in this part of the world.

But there's nothing.

We widen the perimeter, but stick together. Fifty yards.

Then seventy-five.

One hundred.

Still nothing.

First the empty camp, then the bodies, now this. Every lead dissolves like smoke the moment we get close, as if they're playing with us.

They must have teleported. But why wait until now? They should have done it from the start.

valid one as we trot back to the end point

anything else. There must be limitations to their skill. Energy cost. Distance. Number of people they can transport. Sister Miriam was able to appear over large distances, but from what we

had to wait until they reached a specific point? one of my scouts asks. Or

it was from them covering their tracks

That seems strange, if he was one of their

I'm convinced these damn bloodsuckers are

trail, Vester points out privately,

should follow

certainty pulses through

It's a trap.

Aurum's mental voice carries a hint of amusement. But

us doing exactly that. They

And if we're wrong?

Aurum just radiates with readiness,

And I am, too.

question hangs in the

We backtrack. It's time to follow

ears perk forward. You're

want us divided, so we stay together and spring

mile back. The crisp scent of Ryder remains where we found it, too fresh

leads west, away from

bond again. Whatever awaits us, he's ready to face it.

Stay alert.

follow, and our pace is fast. The tracks in the snow fade suddenly after

wolf's scent should be this strong, not even

against our skull. This

the deep snow as we crest another hill. The landscape stretches before

burns from its intensity. Aurum's hackles rise, his aggression bleeding into our shared

the formation to tighten.

hills offer too many places to

cluster of snow-laden bushes.

measured steps. The overwhelming smell of Ryder emanates from that spot like a beacon, drowning out any other scents

is wrong. Aurum's thoughts mirror my

Ryder's scent, but an underlying note I hadn't caught before. Something

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