Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 444: Ava: Something's Wrong with Lisa

Lisa's not in Wolf's Landing, but between her guards—and Selene—it isn't hard to find her. She's half a mile south, sitting on a rock as she stares blankly at the ground.

My heart twists at the vacant look in Lisa's eyes. She keeps rubbing at a spot on her thigh, as if it's bothering her. It's the only sign of life in her.

"Lisa?" I keep my voice soft, the way I used to speak to frightened animals at the shelter. "Can you hear me?"

Nothing. Not even a flicker of recognition.

She's been this way since we made her stop walking, Selene says. The guards thought she just needed air at first, but...

I glance at the two shifters standing a respectful distance away. They aren't watching Lisa, but keeping an eye on her surroundings. "How long has she been sitting here?"

"Twenty minutes," the one on the left says, still not glancing toward us. "She kept walking south. We had to physically block her path. We would have kept walking, but she wasn't dressed appropriately."

She's dressed in a warm coat, like we all are, but she's wearing sneakers instead of boots. Her toes are probably soaked and frozen. No wonder her bodyguards thought something was wrong.

They rarely ask us where we're going; they just follow to keep us safe. I wonder how far she would have gotten if her boots were on.

Not far. I noticed something odd about her gait and followed. They did, too.

Selene's assurances make me feel a little better, but there's an ice-cold hand gripping my heart anyway.

My fingers brush Lisa's hand where it works against her thigh. The skin there must be raw by now, but she doesn't react to my touch. Her skin is too cold; she isn't wearing gloves, either.

"We need to get her warm." Kellan's voice is rough with concern as he reaches for her other hand.

Lisa jerks away from him, a full-body flinch that nearly sends her tumbling off the rock. But she still doesn't look up or speak.

the air, before he takes a step back. The chill coming from his body is worse than the winter temperature, and I clear

I shift closer, blocking Kellan from her view. "Lisa, you're freezing.

up.

"Remember me? It's Ava."

something flicker in her expression.

"Lisa, I'm going to touch your leg now,

her hand. The fabric of her pants is

is there

my

right here," I tell Lisa, keeping my voice soft. "Whatever you're seeing, whatever you're

twitch under

You're in Wolf's Landing. You're sitting on a very cold rock that's probably numbing your butt right

I keep my voice gentle, tugging her hand. Her fingers are like icicles against mine, but she rises without resistance, falling into step beside me as I urge her

steps closer. Lisa's entire body coils tight, and she presses against my side; I flick my hand in his direction, motioning him to stay back. The beta retreats, pain flashing across his features before he schools them

feel guilty telling him to stay away from his own mate, but what

Lisa's reaction is even more violent. Her breath catches, turning into a strangled whimper; the first sound she's

hoping he doesn't

silent way alphas and betas do. Lucas nods once, and they both step away. Lisa's bodyguards follow behind in

side, Selene says, padding over. She seems comfortable

anything, her trembling eases slightly as Selene's fur brushes

take slow steps toward Wolf's Landing. Lisa moves like a sleepwalker, but at least she's

hearing anything right now. "This isn't normal. It must be PTSD. We should get

heart leaps into my throat as I catch her, but before I can steady her, she snaps upright. Her head whips

the hell?" Lisa blinks rapidly, taking in our surroundings. "Why are we out