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.

to knock, I slam the

torso heavily bandaged, face pale, and eyes alert. Lisa hovers beside him, one hand clutching his, the other resting protectively on his shoulder. She looks up when I enter, and

her lips. Something dark and grim

The moment our eyes meet, something inside me uncoils. He’s

still good to see

and pulls me into a crushing embrace, burying his face in my hair. I melt against him, breathing in his scent of amber and campfire smoke, letting

he murmurs against

fighting vampires," I whisper back, my voice breaking.

the room with a flourish, floating up to the ceiling and continuing his creepy ballet above our heads. Eleanor steps in behind me, her eyes wide as she

as he notices our companions. "Ava,"

Vester didn’t give him

again... how does one explain the

enough to meet his gaze.

instinctively. "The wolf who killed his father

narrow dangerously. "What the hell is

building behind my eyes. "He

Eleanor, who clutches her journal

voice surprisingly steady despite her obvious nervousness. "I’m a researcher of paranormal phenomena. I found Ava while tracking a unique magical

and he looks at me with

human," I explain

dawns in his eyes, followed by wariness. He turns to Eleanor with a carefully neutral expression. "Welcome to Wolf’s Landing, Ms. Wright. I’m Lucas Westwood, Alpha of the

darts between

"Yes," Lucas answers simply.

Ava is..." Eleanor trails off, staring at me with

says, his arm

looks like she’s been smacked with a physics textbook.

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

some humans don’t really understand packs, so it

wolf," Lisa pipes up from Kellan’s side, a hint of her usual humor returning despite the strain in her eyes. "Just an ordinary human caught

Eleanor says faintly.

happened?" I ask, finally turning my full attention to my mate’s beta. His bandages are

voice going cold. "We encountered him and his vampires during the rescue