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 I don't have

in danger. He needs to

I burst through the tent

yelp. The familiar scent of coffee.

up. My body's already half-turned toward the battle, mind

I've been looking all

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

eyes widen. "What? What's happening

step around her, but her fingers lock around

he okay?" Raw fear laces her voice. "Lucas,

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 going to help him. Don't

us, his robes whipping in the wind. "Why the sudden mobilization? Did something

explain tersely, pulsing out another call to my fighters,

expression shifts immediately from curiosity to grim resolve. "Then I shall assist. We Fae have

Lisa's voice is steel, her earlier fear

My response is automatic, protective. "It's

explains everything. And in a way,

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

arguing is 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.

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

he'll kill me for bringing her along

Oh, well.

Fae nods, falling into step behind me.

Lisa says. "I'll only be a

heartbeat. Aurum pushes against my consciousness, desperate to

minutes," I say firmly. "We're leaving in five minutes,

be ready." Her expression hardens with

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 our way; she was true to

shifted wolves take the vanguard position. From you," and I point, "to you," pointing again, "Group one. You'll spread in a quarter-mile radius. Watch for any signs of

respond instantly, splitting into organized formations. This is what we've trained

blocking the wind momentarily. His voice drops to a soft rumble. "I can cast an enhancement on myself and the human.

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