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."

every fighter available. Vampires are a tough fight, and

putting him in danger. He needs to focus on surviving until

as I burst through the

familiar scent of coffee. It's Lisa,

reaching down to help her up. My body's already

my hand, letting me pull her upright. "Lucas, I've been looking all over—I need to tell

Wolves are already emerging from cabins, shifting on the run, racing toward the forest edge. "Kellan's in trouble. I have to

eyes widen. "What? What's happening to

I move to step around her, but her fingers lock around my forearm with

fear laces her voice.

vulnerability in her expression catches me off-guard. She's terrified. Of course 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

toward us, his robes whipping in the wind. "Why the sudden

another call to my fighters, with a five-minute

resolve. "Then I shall assist. We Fae

voice is steel,

response is automatic,

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

face, recognizing the stubborn set of her jaw—the same expression Ava gets when she's made up her mind.

need is for her to turn to the side of vampires. Then again, she's human; it isn't as if she can do

kill me when it's all over if

kill me for bringing her

Oh, well.

falling into step behind me.

Lisa says. "I'll only

pushes against my consciousness, desperate to run, to fight,

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

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

bags filled with emergency supplies. Out of the corner of my eye, I can already see Lisa running our way; she was true to her promise. It took only a minute for

you," pointing again, "Group one. You'll spread

formations. This

voice drops to a soft rumble. "I can cast an enhancement on myself and the

appears by our side, slightly breathless but composed. She'd mentioned weapons, but I don't see any on hand. Then again, she works closely with the