Tangled

Unshift 313

Unshift 313

313 Ava: What Do You Think I Should Do?

Grimoire's presence inside of me is unfazed after his revelations from the morning. I swear his

book form even looks cheerful, sitting there on the table.

You seem worried, Selene says, sounding distracted.

"I am. I still don't agree with Grimoire"

About the summoning?

"Yes. Wouldn't you know if you were summoned?"

I suppose. Selene goes quiet for a bit, before asking, How does Lucas feel about it?

Lucas.

He's standing by the window, watching the light rain drizzle across our world. The soft patter of droplets on glass is the only sound outside of my voice. Sister Miriam and Vester left a while ago, leaving us to contemplate our next move. Lucas hasn't spoken since they departed, his thoughts as opaque as the cloudy sky outside.

"I don't know."

He seems ambivalent to the idea of summoning his wolf, but I can't blame him.

After dropping the bomb of Selene's alleged summoning-though she denies it-he did mention. the possible negatives.

While Lucas would not lose his sense of self, he might lose his wolf. Like me, he would exist as a human. But unlike me, he wouldn't have magic to bridge that supernatural gap.

No healing. No strength. What would happen if he were challenged then?

Is it any better than now?

survive without his

the room in silence, I slip my arms around his waist, pressing my cheek against the broad expanse of his back. The steady thump of his

where they rest on his stomach. His touch is warm, familiar, yet so new. We stand like this as the rain

and

scent fills my lungs, surrounding me in assurance, soothing the anxiety beating

silence, low and rumbling. I can feel the vibration of his words through

do? The options before us are all shit, covered in

shit mountain.

A What 10 You

You Think

the

weren't

have

wouldn't be forced into these

so many

I admit softly. "There's so much at

over mine. "Tell me

with all the weight of the world

your sense of self... I worry that you would feel as if you were living half a life without your

it feels to be so

shifter has with their wolf. Distance can create emptiness within our bond. And-scariest of all-I can

slightly. "And I worry about what that would mean for you as Alpha. Would the pack accept a leader without

silent, but I can

"And selfishly, I miss you. The you who remembers our

memories, there's something right about being with you. It's here: He taps his chest, then mine. "Something inside

feel it

in his hands, his touch gentle. "But this isn't just about

nod, leaning

not one

imagine not being able to touch you,

the same

bond has me smiling, and Lucas narrows his eyes.