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

putting him in danger. He

races through tactical options as I burst

startled yelp. The familiar scent of coffee. It's

My body's already half-turned toward

I've been looking all over—I need to

from cabins, shifting on the run, racing

eyes widen. "What? What's

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

okay?" Raw fear laces her

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

through the commotion as he strides toward us, his robes whipping in the wind. "Why the sudden mobilization? Did something happen? Is

call to my fighters, with a five-minute warning. "My beta's pinned down with

Magister's expression shifts immediately from curiosity to grim resolve. "Then I shall assist. We

coming too." Lisa's voice is steel, her earlier

is automatic, protective. "It's too

says it like it explains everything. And in a

jaw—the same expression Ava gets when she's made

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 vampires. Then again,

me when it's

again, he'll kill me for

Oh, well.

falling into step behind me. "Of

need my weapons," Lisa says. "I'll only be

like a second heartbeat. Aurum pushes against my

leaving in five minutes, whether you're ready

Her expression hardens with resolve as she turns

us to gather. Three hundred wolves stand ready. Half are already shifted. The others remain human, holding bags filled with emergency supplies. Out of the

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

organized formations. This is what we've

closer, his massive frame blocking the wind momentarily. His voice drops to a soft rumble. "I can cast an

by our side, slightly breathless but composed. She'd mentioned weapons, but I don't see any