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.

valid one as we trot back to the end point of the

has rules, just like 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 have learned, she

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

Thinking of how their numbers seemed to shrink, and how we assumed it was from

Why? That seems

without answers; I'm convinced these damn bloodsuckers

Vester points out privately, not broadcasting the option to the

should follow Ryder's

pulses through our

It's a trap.

it's a trap. Aurum's mental voice carries a hint of amusement. But traps work both

they're counting on us doing exactly that. They expected me to

And if we're wrong?

just radiates with readiness, bloodthirsty for

And I am, too.

Vester's question hangs in

announce, We backtrack. It's time

perk forward.

want us divided, so we stay together and spring their trap on our

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

away from the direction Jericho was

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

Stay alert.

tightening. It's an easy trail to follow, and our pace is fast.

wolf's scent

against our skull. This isn't

the deep snow as we crest another hill. The landscape stretches before us, white and pristine save for

burns from

signal the formation to tighten. Check every

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

a cluster of snow-laden

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

mirror my own. His scent shouldn't

just Ryder's scent, but an underlying note I