Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 264 Ava: Lucas is Recovering

"How can that be?!"

It's a stupid question. Betrayal comes in all shapes and sizes. It can happen to anyone at any time.

But it's still a shock.

Kellan shakes his head. "It's the only thing that makes sense. Someone knew every move we made. It's why

secrecy is valued even here." He rubs the bridge of his nose with a long sigh. "Getting everyone here felt

impossible. We lost so many, even after the fighting, during the retreat.

Especially after Lucas was hurt."

"He's okay now, right?"

Kellan stares at me, a muscle in his cheek twitching. "To an extent, yes. Your Sister Miriam arrived in tto

stabilize him."

| frown. "What do you mean?"

"If she and Selene hadn't been there, Lucas would have succumbed to his injuries."

That can't be possible.

It's hard enough to accept that he was grievously injured without a single hiccup in the bond between us.

It's worse to think | could have lost him, and had no idea. Even now, the only feeling in my chest is of my bond

humming in excitement, ready to see Lucas, impatient with this detour Kellan's devised.

"I can't feel anything different. It feels the sas it always does, in here." | touch my chest, tears filling my

eyes at the thought of almost losing Lucas. We've barely had ttogether, with all these insane happenings

around us. "Why didn't | feel it?"

"You have a fated mate connection, but you aren't marked. You aren't mated. You wouldn't feel anything. It's

either there, or it isn't." He rubs a hand vigorously over his head, making a face. "Can't feel direction or anything

else, not unless they're nearby."

Oh. He's frustrated.

He's mated to Lisa and has yet to see her.

"Lisa's coming," | blurt out. "She should be here soon."

Kellan moves so fast | barely register it. His hands clamp down on my upper arms, his grip tight enough to form

bruises. His eyes burn with an intensity that takes my breath away.

"Are you serious?" he demands, raw and emotional in a way I've never seen. Not even when he first recognized

his mated connection, the day we lost Lisa.

For a moment, I'm stunned by his reaction. Is this how Lucas felt when he finally found me? My heart flips at the

thought, a desperate longing to see him washing over me. | push it aside, focusing on Kellan.

"Yes," | assure him, keeping my voice steady. "That's what | was told. Lisa should be on her way here."

Kellan blinks, seeming to cback to himself. He glances down at his hands, still gripping my arms, and

abruptly lets go. Stepping back, his features smooth into the mask of beta professionalism I've always thought

was his normal face.

"I apologize, Ava," he says, voice clipped. "That was inappropriate of me."

"It's okay," | tell him, rubbing my arms where his fingers left imprints. "I understand."

And | do. The relief and hope in his eyes, quickly masked, is forever burned into my memory.

It occurs toLisa doesn't know about their fated connection. I'm not sure how well that's going to go over.

"When did you get this information?" Kellan asks, all business now.

"Just before we left to chere," | explain. "A man named Acarus told us. He's... connected to Sister Miriam."

Kellan's eyebrows rise slightly at that. "Sister Miriam," he murmurs. "She's been quite involved lately."

Then he shakes his head, as if clearing away unwanted thoughts. "About Lucas."

My heart races. "I want to see him."

"He's... recovering," he says carefully. "But there have been unexpected setbacks."

This tI'm the one to close the distance between us, my fingers wrapping around Kellan's forearm. The

muscles beneath my grip are taut, betraying the tension he's trying so hard to hide.

"What do you mean?" | demand, my voice rising. "Stop beating around the bush, Kellan. What's going on with

Lucas?"

Kellan's eyes flutter shut, and he drags his free hand down his face. A low growl rumbles in his chest, a sound of

frustration and something | can't quite put my finger on.

"Lucas isn't..." He pauses, swallowing hard. "He's not the sas before."

My grip on his arm tightens. | can feel my nails digging into his skin, but | can't let go. "Stop being so fucking

cryptic and just tell me!" Desperation claws at my insides. "What's wrong with him?"

Kellan's eyes snap open, meeting mine. The pain | see there steals my breath. When he speaks, his voice is

barely above a whisper.

"Alpha has lost his memory."

The words hitlike a physical blow. | stumble back, my hand falling from his arm. "What?" | breathe, unable to

process what he's saying.

That can't be possible.

Kellan continues, his voice low and strained. "He doesn't recognize any of his wolves. He's been unable to

communicate through the pack bonds, though we seem to still have a connection to him as our alpha."

| shake my head, denial rising like bile in my throat. "No," | whisper. "That's not possible. | would have felt

something. Our bond—"

"Your bond isn't complete," Kellan remindsgently. "You're not marked. Not mated."

The truth of his words crashes over me, and | feel my knees buckle. Kellan reaches out, steadyingwith a firm

grip on my shoulders.

"How?" | manage to choke out. "How did this happen?"

Kellan's jaw clenches. "The attack. When he was injured... Sister Miriam saved his life, but there were

complications. We don't know if it's temporary or..." He trails off, unable to finish the thought.

My mind races, trying to make sense of this new reality. Lucas, my Lucas, doesn't remember me. Doesn't

remember us.

The future we'd begun to build together, the promises we'd made—all of it, gone in an instant.

"I need to see him," | say, my voice stronger than | feel. "Taketo him, Kellan. Now."

Kellan hesitates. "Ava, I'm not sure that's—"

"Now," | repeat, steel in my tone. "I don't care if he doesn't remember me. | need to see him with my own eyes."

For a moment, | think he's going to argue. But then his shoulders slump, and he nods. "Alright. Follow me."

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