Tangled

Unshift 259

Unshift 259

259 Ava: Going to Lucas

No shit.

I could have told him that; in so many ways, wolf packs are far behind their human counterparts. Even the humans have run little news clips on these things. Especially the rates of sexual assault. on women, or wolf-on-wolf violence.

"How do you know this?" Vanessa asks suspiciously. "You said communication has bee disrupted."

"Not all communication. Only those relying on human technology.

"Then shouldn't you know more about what's happening in the world?" I frown at the Inconsistency.

"If I had people to communicate with, I would know. I don't, so I am as lost as you are, Here. A map." Acarus tosses a rolled up paper to Marcus.

witchling.

For some reason, I expected something old and antique, with yellowed paper and jagged edges.

This is more like a smooth poster banner, neatly rolled up. A modern map.

Of course it is. Why would I think otherwise?

Distracted by thoughts of Lisa, I tune them out as they discuss routes and nearby cities. Ever since I decided to become a proper Luna, I've avoided thinking about her, leaving me with an icky feeling that I'm a terrible friend.

It's like no matter what, every decision feels wrong.

But every time I go down that road, I'm told I'm wallowing.

There's a huge part of me that still thinks I should have gone my own way and saved Lisa. Of course there is. Who wouldn't want to tell the world to fuck off and save their best friend?

But her safety came out of luck, not from the effort I put into it. Not even from the efforts of Lucas' pack.

It adds to that guilt rolling around in my soul.

Thinking about Lisa and the time after her kidnapping has my mind wandering down the dark days of not knowing anything, until Sister Miriam-

"Wait a second. Acarus, maybe you can answer this question"

pauses mid-sentence to look

your mother able to stop

He stares.

One second..

Two.

Vanessa

Ava: Going

he asks, the words even

"Figured it out when she visited me after

thoughts to yourself, Aval

shuddering. I know the feeling of being targeted too

mouths, 'stop time? at me, but I just shake

If it's a secret Sister Miriam keeps in order to stay alive, I'll keep

us a

sputters in a way that has Marcus doubtful it can even get us to the place marked on the map, and Vanessa holds

saying he only goes

He's a strange person.

as he makes his way through the back roads, avoiding major highways. If we took one, the drive

asleep after a while, because Vanessa shakes me awake by the shoulder. I'm in the backseat, which is basically a tiny bench that pretends it's big enough for someone to sit on. "What is it?" Groggy, I glance out the window. It's dark. Lots of stars in the sky, telling us we're far from any large

moon is bright too, and about three-quarters full. A piece of

toward it.

can sense Vester. Her lips curve, her eyes dancing. "He can't respond, but

the way."

words stir something within me, and I close my

there's only

my chest, not quite painful, but a definite pressure. It's different from my connection with Selene, yet somehow

Well, not

It would probably hurt if he wasn't. Though..." Her

mark."

Going to

separate us, and

Vanessa says, her voice taking on a thoughtful tone, "considering everything that's happened, maybe it's time

a blush creeping up my cheeks. "What do

bond you have now is a handicap, Ava. If you were fully. mated, your connection would be stronger. You'd be able to sense each other more clearly, communicate better. In times like

wanted to be accepted

everything that's happened, Vanessa

we should?

mate bond strengthens both partners. You'd be able to draw on each other's strength, share energy. And in a crisis like this, that could be