Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

snow-covered landscape.

"There's another pocket ahead." My voice comes out raspy from the cold. "About fifty yards to the right of that

fallen pine."

Marcus nods, his dark eyes scanning the treeline. "Sprotocol as usual?"

"Yes. Keep your distance when | start the purification."

The taint feels different today—heavier, more viscous. Like tar seeping into the earth. Each step closer makes

my skin prickle with unease.

It's been getting worse.

"Ready?" Greg asks, positioning himself just behind me.

| pull off my gloves and stretch my fingers. The cold bites into my skin, but I've learned that direct contact makes

it all easier. "As I'll ever be."

The wolves spread out in a wider circle as | approach the contaminated area. No vegetation grows here—just

dead, blackened earth in a perfect circle. The taint didn't affect the surrounding area at first. Lately, it's as if it's

eating into the earth itself. Before, it was like an invisible cloud living above ground. Now, it's like it's fusing into

everything.

The ground. Trees. Every living being that passes through it. Even squirrels seem to have gone mad.

We've had to be careful hunting; | have to look over all the gour hunters bring home. There's no idea what

will happen if we ingested corrupted meat.

Drawing in a deep breath, | press my palms against the frozen ground. The taint immediately responds, writhing

beneath the surface like a living thing. It fightsas | draw it up through the soil, into my hands.

Pain shoots through my arms, sharp and biting. The alien darkness is strange and hostile, fightingevery step

of the way. My magic pushes back against it, trying to transform the corruption into pure energy.

"Breathe through it," Marcus coaches from several feet away. "You've got this." Of course, he doesn't understand

any of it. But he's turned into a bit of a cheerleader lately.

Sweat beads on my forehead despite the cold. The taint resists, clinging to its corrupted form. | grit my teeth and

push harder with my magic, forcing it to yield.

Slowly, agonizingly, the darkness begins to change. The pain in my arms intensifies as | convert more of the

tainted energy. My hands tremble against the ground.

"Almost there," | gasp out. One final surge of magic, and the last of the corruption dissolves into pure energy. |

slump forward with a grunt, exhausted.

Marcus is at my side instantly, helpingsit up. "You okay?"

"Yeah." | flex my tingling fingers. "That one was stronger than usual."

Greg prods at the ground in front ofwith his boot. He's the most curious of them all when it comes to magic.

"We should head back. You've already purified three spots today."

"Just one more." | struggle to my feet, legs shaky. "I can feel another pocket about a quarter mile east."

"Ava..." Marcus's tone carries a warning.

"The longer we leave these spots, the more they spread." | tuck my hands back into my gloves. "I can handle

one more."

The wolves adjust their formation as we change direction. It's eerily silent—no birds, no small animals. Even the

wind seems muted.

It's strange out here, and it's growing at an alarming rate. I'm not going to be able to keep it at bay forever.

Grimoire is silent in my mind. | no longer need his guidance to purify. He's been deep diving, trying to figure out

ways to help that are more efficient than chasing these pockets of corruption down.

We find the fourth spot nestled between rolling hills. This one is smaller than the others, but the energy feels just

as potent. | kneel in the snow, bracing myself for another round of cleansing. At least this tit hasn't settled

into the ground. It's always harder then.

The process is familiar now, though no less painful. Draw up the taint. Channel it through my body. Transform it

with magic.

By the tI finish, my whole body trembles with exhaustion. Marcus has to practically carryas we start the

trek back to Wolf's Landing.

"No more excursions today," he says firmly. "You need rest."

| don't argue. | feel depleted, stretched thin from hours of purification, even as I'm filled with magic.

But | can't shake the nagging worry that we're not clearing these spots fast enough. Every day we find more

pockets of corruption, spreading like a disease through our territory.

The guards remain vigilant as we make our way home, their ears pricked for any sign of those increasingly

aggressive rogues. So far we haven't encountered any, but the threat looms constantly.

"You did good work today," Greg says quietly as Wolf's Landing comes into view. "Four spots cleared."

"Thanks." | lean more heavily on Marcus as fatigue settles deep in my bones. "But tomorrow we'll need to check

the northern border. | sensed sdark energy in that direction."

Marcus sighs, but doesn't protest. He knows as well as | do that we can't afford to leave any of these corrupted

areas unchecked.

A flash of chestnut hair catches my eye as several people head toward us. My muscles lock up and | push away

from Marcus, determined to stand on my own. No way am | letting Ivy seeweak.

"Ava!" Ivy waves as she gets closer. Three Aspen wolves trail behind her, along with a young Westwood. |

recognize his face but don't remember his name. Her perfect face creases with concern as she looksover.

"Are you alright? You look pale."

"I'm fine." The words cout clipped despite my effort to keep them neutral.

"There was a small issue with sof the newer batch of wolves Delta Thorn brought in." Ivy clasps her hands in

front of her. "Nothing major—just sconfusion about sleeping arrangements. | took care of it."

My eyebrows rise. "Thank you for handling that. Though I'm curious why you didn't bring it to Kellan's attention?"

"Oh." She waves a delicate hand. "It wasn't serious enough to bother Beta Ashbourne. He's so busy these days."

"That's what he's there for." My words fall flat between us. "Any pack matter, no matter how small, should go

through proper channels."

She's testing boundaries again. Selene's words con a faint growl in my head.

| want to growl too, but I'm supposed to be making nice with Ivy. Fuck. The reminder makes my temples throb.

"But | do appreciate you taking initiative," | add, softening my tone. "Maybe next twe could work together on

resolving these issues? I'd love to hear your perspective on how the refugees are settling in."

"Of course, Ava. Whatever you think is best." Her syrupy sweet words set my teeth on edge.

She's not stupid enough to fall for that, you know.

Fighting the urge to roll my eyes, | just send back, | have to try. Between being out all day on purifying these

stupid taints, | don't have tto play political games.

Exhaustion weighs heavy in my bones. Four purifications in one day might have been pushing it, but what choice

do | have?

"Why don't you settle in? I'll bring you something to eat. You've been working so hard," Ivy says, coming up

besideto thread her arm through mine. As much as | dislike her, she's comfortable to lean on.

Really? Leaning on her, of all people?

But my body's too tired to care about how it looks. No matter how much | tell it | can stand on my own, it keeps

leaning against her as we head toward the Alpha cabin.

Reminding myself yet again to be nice, | say sincerely, "Thank you, Ivy."

"Of course. I'm here to help. You can rely onanytime."

She sounds so kind in this moment, so reliable, that it'd be easy to take her at face value. But of course | balk,

because I'm not so far gone in my exhaustion as to forget who I'm dealing with.

"Kellan can bringmy food," | say, realizing | don't even want her in my hwhen we're a few feet away.

"But | really appreciate it."

"Are you sure? It would take so long to find him and then let him know. Neither of us have the pack bond with

him..."

"But | do," Marcus interrupts. A few seconds later, he says, "Beta Kellan will be here soon. He says Elverly's stew

is great today."

Ivy's arm tenses around mine. It's just a second before it relaxes. "It is delightful," she agrees cheerfully. "You

should love it."

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