Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 461: Ava: Row Your Boat

Chapter 461: Ava: Row Your Boat

My lungs burn as we sprint through Wolf’s Landing, the ghost floating beside us, humming a distorted version of "Row Your Boat" while Eleanor struggles to keep pace. Snow crunches underfoot, but I barely hear it over my pounding heartbeat.

"Is the hospital far?" Eleanor pants behind me, clutching her journal to her chest like a shield.

"It’s right there." I don’t slow down, but I do feel bad for the girl.

Still—my mind’s focused on Lucas and all the injuries from their fight. Vester didn’t give many details, but if they’re in the hospital, it can’t be good.

The ghost drifts ahead, twirling like a deranged ballerina. "Ring around the roses, pockets full of posies, ashes, ashes, they all fall DOWN!"

He screams the last word, swooping low over two wolves carrying supplies, who flinch despite themselves. They can’t touch him, but they sure as hell can see him.

The flying didn’t start until we entered Wolf’s Landing. He was walking before.

Grimoire, can you do anything about him? I ask desperately.

Nope.

Simple and to the point. His denial is a wall of stone. Lovely. I always wanted a spectral stalker who sings nursery rhymes.

The hospital is bustling, with people rushing both in and out.

Again, Vester hadn’t said much. The key words were: vampires, ambush, several injured and/or dead.

At the entrance, I nearly collide with a young man carrying bloody bandages. It takes a second to realize it’s Wes.

"Where’s Lucas?" I demand.

"The biggest room, Luna." His eyes dart nervously to the ghost hovering behind me, then to Eleanor. "The beta’s there too. Do you need—? No? I’m here if you need anything!"

His shout follows behind me as I shove my way through the crowd.

"So many broken puppies," the ghost coos.

Eleanor’s still with me, I think. If she isn’t, Vester will take care of her.

bothering to knock, I slam the door open and rush

shoulders tense as he speaks with Vanessa. Kellan’s the one on a hospital bed this time, his torso heavily bandaged, face pale, and eyes alert. Lisa hovers beside him, one hand clutching his, the other resting

A pale line around her lips. Something dark and

door. The moment our eyes meet, something

already knew, but—it’s still good

room in three long strides and pulls me into a crushing embrace, burying his face in my hair. I melt against him, breathing in his scent of amber

okay," he murmurs against my

the one who was fighting vampires," I whisper

to the ceiling and continuing his

his arms tightening around me as he notices our

didn’t give him a

does one

meet his gaze. "It’s a long

"The wolf who killed his father for power! But you didn’t, did you? The rumors lie, lie, lie like

mate’s eyes narrow dangerously. "What the

say, feeling a headache building behind my eyes. "He followed

toward Eleanor, who clutches her

voice surprisingly steady despite her obvious nervousness. "I’m a

looks at me

explain quietly.

with a carefully neutral expression.

twists. Her gaze darts between us. "You’re all wolf

"Yes," Lucas answers simply.

Eleanor trails off, staring at me with

mate," Lucas says, his arm wrapping possessively

a physics textbook. "Ah-hah. Yeah. Okay. This

on the journal says otherwise, and I wonder what she was thinking about Vester and the

humans don’t really understand packs, so it would

side, a hint of her usual humor returning despite the strain in her eyes. "Just an ordinary human caught in some furry

Eleanor says faintly. "Me,

my full attention to my mate’s beta. His bandages are

Prince," Lucas says, his voice going cold. "We encountered him and his vampires during