Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 457 - 457: Lucas: Kellan's Message

LUCAS

Clayton has his arms crossed over his chest as he stares at the fabric ceiling of the debriefing tent, absorbing the thirty-minute explanation of the last several months of our life.

"I didn't expect the Fae to be so…" He squints. "Prevalent? In this area. I only know of one in Aspen. She helped keep some of our systems running. Some sort of magic hacker. She's just a kid, but she's got a good head on her shoulders. A little squirrely, though."

"Squirrely?"

"The kid's terrified of getting caught by someone, but we don't know who she's running from. Guessing it's this New Order."

"Join the club," I mutter. Westwood was always a strong pack, and I thought we could stand against any enemy. Until we couldn't.

"It isn't just you," Clayton says with a sigh. "While they don't seem particularly bothered by our section of the country, there have been others. Some territories have merged completely. Pack wars are prevalent. It's dangerous even to leave Aspen at this time, leaving it without an alpha."

Which only shows how important Ivy was to him.

I shake my head. "It's as if society's gone backw—"

A searing burst of pain slices through my skull, and I grit my teeth against the flash of agony. Kellan's voice, urgent and strained, floods my mind through our pack link.

Vampires at the south ridge clearing! Send everyone you can—they came out of nowhere—

His voice cuts off with a howl, its mental echoes vibrating through my bones. Aurum surges forward inside me, nearly breaking through my skin to take over.

My jaw clenches as I fight him back.

"Shit."

I throw out a wide call to every fighter in the compound. Assemble by the south gate. Kellan needs reinforcements. Vampire attack.

"What is it?"

I shake my head with a groan, working my jaw against the pain. Kellan's injured. It must have been an ambush; he would have made contact much sooner if he could. "Vampire attack to the south. My beta's in trouble."

Clayton's already on his feet, his eyes glazing as he speaks. "I'm coming with you."

deny his help. We need every fighter available. Vampires are a tough

Kellan is impossible, not without putting him in danger. He needs to focus on

races through tactical options as I

yelp. The familiar scent of coffee. It's Lisa,

My body's already half-turned toward the

her upright. "Lucas, I've been looking all over—I need to tell you about

are already emerging from cabins, shifting on

widen. "What?

ambush." I move to step around her, but

okay?" Raw fear laces her

she is. Kellan's her mate; I'm sure their bond is screaming. "I don't know," I answer honestly, my tone softening despite the urgency. "But I'm going to help him. Don't

as he strides toward us, his robes whipping in

I explain tersely, pulsing out another call to my fighters,

"Then I shall assist. We

Lisa's voice is steel, her earlier fear transformed

My response is automatic, protective.

She says it like it explains everything. And in a way, it

set of her jaw—the same expression Ava gets when she's made up her mind. No wonder these two

a second Kellan doesn't have. "Magister, keep an eye on her." The last thing we need is for her to turn to the side of

Kellan might kill me when it's all over if she

again, he'll kill me for bringing her along

Oh, well.

giant Fae nods, falling into

says. "I'll only be

me like a second heartbeat. Aurum pushes against my consciousness, desperate to run, to

say firmly. "We're leaving in five minutes, whether you're ready

nods, already backing away. "I'll be ready." Her expression hardens with resolve as she turns and sprints toward

Three hundred wolves stand ready. Half are already shifted. The others remain human, holding bags filled with emergency supplies. Out of the corner of my eye, I can already see Lisa running

vanguard position. From you," and I point, "to you," pointing again,

formations. This is

His voice drops to a soft rumble. "I can cast an

but I don't see any on hand.