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."

reason to deny his help. We need every fighter available. Vampires are a tough fight, and

not without putting him in danger. He

races through tactical options as I burst

coffee. It's Lisa,

down to help her up. My body's already half-turned toward

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

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

eyes widen. "What? What's happening

her, but

Raw fear laces

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

deep voice cuts through the commotion as he strides toward us, his robes whipping in the wind.

call to my

I shall assist. We

voice is steel, her earlier fear

is automatic, protective.

there." She says it like it explains everything. And

face, recognizing the stubborn set of her jaw—the same expression Ava gets when she's made up her mind. No

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

it's

me for

Oh, well.

nods, falling into step behind

my weapons," Lisa says. "I'll

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

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

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

long for 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 corner of my eye, I can already see Lisa

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 ambush. Group two, flank

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

frame blocking the wind momentarily. His voice drops to a soft rumble. "I can

mentioned weapons, but I don't see any on hand. Then again, she