Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 378 Ava: Mira's Choice

"This wasn't how our trip was supposed to go," Vanessa murmurs, watching as an entire horde of wolves

descend upon us.

Vester leads them all. Apparently there was a huge ruckus over the position, but Lucas lost because he was

terrible at rock-paper-scissors. (I didn't know important things could be decided by a fist or two fingers, but there

itis.)

Instead, our venerable Alpha—my beloved mate—sent orders in no uncertain terms. Get Ava's ass has soon

as possible, taint be damned. According to Vester, that's a direct quote.

Until we know what's going on, it's too unsafe forto be far from Wolf's Landing.

It's a typical Lucas move, but | can't disagree with the decision, even as my stomach churns at the idea of

leaving that dense patch of corruption behind.

Crunching a small patch of pristine snow beneath my boots, | wait as people discuss and confer and do all their

tactical-minded decisions. It leaves me, Lisa, and Vanessa off to the side, just waiting for our escort home.

Being around here with so many wolves should makefeel more at ease. There's protection everywhere,

right? But that also means there are more potential targets. More lives I'm responsible for.

Mira's loss is already too much to this pack of aggressive rogue wolves and a vampire's thrall.

Lisa's shoulders stop shaking as she wipes her face with the back of her hand. Her eyes remain red and puffy,

but the wild panic from earlier has settled into something quieter. More controlled.

"Why was she even out here?" Lisa's voice cracks. "She was pregnant. She should have been safe inside the

compound."

"Lisa—"

"No, | mean it. Who lets a pregnant she-wolf take guard duty? What kind of pack puts their pregnant women in

danger? It isn't right."

"The kind of pack that respects a woman's right to choose her own path." Vanessa's voice cuts through the frigid

air, firm but not unkind. A tone carrying the weight of her experience. "We're not delicate flowers to be wrapped

in silk and hidden away."

Lisa blinks, taken aback by the healer's sharp response.

Her voice softens. "I knew Mira. We've been friends for years. She's ctoover her concerns about her

pregnancy, and also ctoabout continuing her duties as a scout."

"But why would she risk—"

"Because that's who Mira was." Vanessa settles beside us, her hands folded in her lap, as she answers Lisa's

question. "She never sat on the sidelines. Not once. Even before joining Westwood, she was known to be a

decent scout. She was always proud of that."

The wind whistles by us; it's been slowly picking up speed as the day goes on.

"She volunteered for this mission," Vanessa continues. "No one assigned her. No one forced her. She chose to be

here because she believed in protecting others." A pause. "Just as she chose to protect you today."

Lisa's breath hitches.

"By taking responsibility for her choices, you diminish the strength she showed throughout her life. Mira knew

the risks. She accepted them. And she died protecting what she believed in."

"But her baby—"

"Was part of her choice too." Vanessa's hand rests on her own stomach, so subtle | almost miss it. "We're wolves,

Lisa. Our children are part of our strength, not our weakness. Mira understood that better than most."

Lisa's fingers twist in her lap as she absorbs Vanessa's words. "I just... | keep thinking if | hadn't been here..."

"Then someone else might have died instead. Or worse." Vanessa's voice remains steady. "Mira made her

choice."

Glancing toward her mate, the healer adds, "It looks like they're done talking. We'll be heading hsoon. You'll

feel better after a hot shower and ssleep. It won't take the pain away, but it'll help calm your mind."

Vanessa's words might sound harsh to human ears, but there's a raw truth to them that resonates with my wolf

nature. Death walks hand in hand with our kind—we face it, accept it, honor it. The price of freedom is steep, but

it's one we choose to pay.

Still, I understand Lisa's pain. Because I, too, carry the weight of every wolf's death on my shoulders.

"Con." | take my best friend's arm, steering her toward the sled. "You need to rest."

"I can walk." Lisa plants her feet in the snow, stubborn as ever.

"You're still in shock. Your body needs tto recover."

"But"

"No buts." I shove her onto the sled, arranging the furs around her. "The last thing we need is you collapsing in

the snow."

"Second to last thing," Vanessa corrects me.

Startled, | glance over my shoulder at the healer, who's smiling wryly. Lisa, however, laughs. She seems to

understand.

"Yeah, Ave. That means you aren't allowed to collapse, either."

Oh. Now | get it.

Lisa sinks into the pelts, her resistance crumbling as exhaustion claims her. The shadows under her eyes tell

their own story—one of grief, guilt, and the death of Marisol. Her joy at disintegrating the woman will probably

haunt her dreams for the rest of her life.

"I'm fine. | haven't done anything in two days. | can handle a walk back to Wolf's Landing."

Vanessa nods, surprisingwith her lack of argument. Then again, what else am | supposed to do? Sitting on

the sled just makes more work for the guards, and | can't steer the sled because | have no idea what I'm doing.

"Kellan is going to lead Lisa and the others hon a quick run. We'll follow behind. But we're going to need to

be fast. We can't let them get too far ahead in case they need our help. And Vester will take the others to track

down the rogues."

You'll have to use your magic, Selene translates. The trail is already broken, so it shouldn't be too hard on you.

Grimoire, still in his child form, bounces on the balls of his feet. You have plenty of magic stored. It will be good

to use it. You haven't expended much of what you've purified.

He's got a good point there. "Sounds like a plan."

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