Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

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.

as we trot back to the end point

skill. Energy cost. Distance. Number of people they can transport. Sister Miriam was able to appear over large distances, but from what we have learned, she is an old vampire with unique

wait until they reached a specific point? one of my scouts asks. Or maybe until they recovered enough

was from them covering their tracks more wisely, I add,

until the end. Why? That seems strange, if he was one

Always more questions without answers; I'm convinced these damn bloodsuckers are trying to

Ryder's trail, Vester points out privately, not broadcasting the option to

follow Ryder's

certainty pulses through our

It's a trap.

mental voice carries a hint of amusement.

doing exactly that. They expected me

And if we're wrong?

Aurum just radiates with

And I am, too.

hangs

of them, I announce, We backtrack. It's time to follow

perk forward. You're

so we stay together

formation as we backtrack the mile back. The crisp scent of Ryder remains where we found it, too fresh to be real, with his presence

from

Whatever awaits us, he's ready

Stay alert.

our formation tightening. It's an easy trail to follow, and our pace is fast. The tracks in the snow fade suddenly after half a mile, but the

of Ryder saturates the air, so thick it coats my tongue. No wolf's scent should be this strong, not even if they rolled in

against our

we crest another hill. The landscape

bringing another wave of Ryder's scent. My nose burns from its

formation to tighten. Check

snow-covered hills offer too many places to hide. Each

One of my scouts motions toward a cluster of snow-laden

spot like a beacon, drowning out any other scents that might warn us of

my own.

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