Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 373 Ava: Tracks

Once Lisa's finished eating and we feed the wolves who cwith her—including Kellan, who seems determined

to keep slevel of distance from his mate, even as he sneaks glances at her when she's not looking—the

entire tent goes down, including our stove.

It isn't long before I'm tucked back into my sled, despite protesting that the next area isn't far and | can walk

there.

Lisa waves atas she heads off with Mira, their forms growing smaller against the stark white landscape. The

young she-wolf's animated gestures make Lisa laugh, and something in my chest loosens at the sound. It's good

to see her making connections beyond just me, Kellan, and the gnomes.

"Tto move." Vanessa takes her place behind me; the guards are already in their wolf forms and harnessed.

It's still weird, even after having experienced it all day yesterday.

The sled glides smoothly over the packed snow, Marcus and Greg working in perfect sync at the lead, their fur

gleaming under the weak winter sun.

You're brooding, Grimoire says, materializing besidein his silver fox form.

"Just thinking about the late start."

You thought it was worth it.

"It was. | just wish there was more tin a day, that's all."

Have you noticed the change? He's adopted the tone of a professor to student again.

"Yes. It's denser than yesterday when | first sensed it, and it's moving, even though it's slow. Like a crawl."

The magical corruption pulses at the edge of my awareness, a nauseating weight that makes my skin crawl. It

feels different. Concentrated. Wrong.

Keep your senses alert.

"I know. | have a theory, though."

Oh?

"I think it might be gathering all the local corruption. That's why we aren't seeing much. All the little bits are

getting drawn to the big bit."

His tail swishes. It is possible, but we haven't seen it in action. It's a workable theory, but the question would be

to what end.

Marcus's ears flick back toward us, probably catching our quiet conversation. His massive gray form maintains

our steady pace through the snow.

| close my eyes, focusing on the nauseating pulse of dark energy. It's definitely stronger than before, a heavy

miasma that seems to coat the inside of my skull. But there's something else, something | can't quite grasp...

| guess we'll find out soon enough.

* kK

It doesn't take very long for us to make it to the edge of the dense taint.

The stench of corrupted magic hitsbefore we reach it. It's not something that really hits my nose so much as

my metaphysical senses, but my stomach roils, acid burning up my throat. Next to me, Selene sneezes

repeatedly, her silver form shaking with each violent burst.

"Everyone stay back." | wave the wolves away from the edge of the taint. "Let's get you unharnessed first."

Vanessa's lips press into a thin line as she helpsunbuckle the wolves from their leads. Her movements are

quick, efficient, but her face betrays her unease. "Something's not right here."

"Fresh tracks." Selene's voice echoes in my mind. Another sneeze. "But no scent."

"What tracks?"

Marcus gestures with his chin toward a patch of snow. | follow him, careful to keep my distance from the

corruption's edge. The tracks are clear—what look like distinctive wolf prints pressed into the fresh powder.

"These are recent." Vanessa crouches beside me, pointing to the crisp edges. "See how the snow hasn't had time

to crystallize or drift? I'd say no more than three, maybe four hours old."

The lack of scent makes my skin prickle. Even with the corruption's interference, we should pick up something.

"Could they be using scent blockers?"

No one answers immediately, but it isn't like | need them to confirm it. What else can it be?

Marcus circles the area, his movements precise and measured. "At least ten different sets of prints. And no one

from our pack was here today."

"Not Westwood," | echo, but | already figured that much.

| trace the direction of the tracks with my eyes, my breath catching as | realize where they lead. "They're

heading toward the camp site." Where we were not so long ago.

Vanessa stiffens beside me. "We didn't pass any wolves on our way here."

"Or smell them," Selene adds between sneezes.

Ten unknown wolves, moving without scent, near a pocket of corruption. None of my companions spotted them

despite our vigilant travel here. They're likely aggressive, and they're headed in the direction of... Lisa.

Shit.

"Alert Kellan."

The corruption pulses behind us, a reminder of why we chere in the first place. Ten mysterious wolves or

not, this taint needs to be dealt with. But the tracks... Something about their presence here feels wrong.

Calculated. Maybe it really is coincidence, but why would they be using scent blockers?

My stomach twists as | turn to Marcus.

"How long to catch up with Lisa and the others?"

Marcus's eyes narrow as he calculates the distance. "Hour and a half, maybe less if we push hard."

Too long.

"We need to move." | glance toward the taint one last time. The dark energy is heavy, but it will have to wait.

"Let's go."

The wolves shift without question. My boots crunch through the snow as | head back to the sled, my pulse

beating hard in my neck. "Vanessa, is Kellan aware?"

"Yes. They haven't noticed anything yet, but if they're using scent blockers..."

Right.

Her breath comes out in white puffs as she settles in behind me, her feet solid on the runners. "You think they

knew we'd be here?"

"Someone did. Why else use scent blockers?"

Ten wolves don't just happen to wander through our territory disguising their scent.

In little tat all, wind once again cuts through my blankets like icy daggers, forcingdeeper into their

protection. My exposed skin burns from the assault of wind and deep winter cold, but | can't bring myself to care

about the discomfort. Not when Lisa could be in danger.

"Faster," | whisper, though my wolves need no encouragement. Their muscles bunch and stretch as they power

through the deep snow, following the path we made earlier.

Kellan reports no sign of them yet, but the snow's picking up. Visibility's getting worse.

Strange. It isn't snowing here, and we aren't that far apart. In fact, the sky is pretty clear.

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