Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 197 Ava: Do You Believe in the Moon Goddess?

"I don't understand. How did you know about the necklace? And this book? How did you get here?"

"Ah, yes." Mrs. Elkins sighs, reaching over to pat my hand in a familiar gesture. "Do you believe in prophetic

dreaming?"

Vanessa steps forward now, her voice pitched high with incredulity. "Are you a clairvoyant, ma'am?"

"No, dear." Mrs. Elkins gives Vanessa one of her warm smiles. "But sdreams mean something. Do you

believe in your Moon Goddess, child?"

The guards’ growls fill the air, a group offense at being questioned on their faith.

Vanessa's stern look silences them. She turns to Mrs. Elkins, her voice soft yet resolute. "I do believe in the Moon

Goddess, yes."

Mrs. Elkins reaches for Vanessa's hand, and though bewilderment flickers across Vanessa's face, she allows the

contact. The old lady's eyes crinkle with warmth as she clasps Vanessa's hand in her arthritic fingers. "I'm so

grateful Ava has found a friend. She was far too lonely in Cedarwood."

Her words tug at my heart, remindinghow grateful | am to have Vanessa in my corner. But Mrs. Elkins

continues, her voice taking on a dreamlike quality.

"I've had strange dreams this year. One of a lonely witch, hunted by wolves." Her gaze meets mine, and | feel a

jolt of recognition. "I had the sfeeling when | met you, Ava. | felt drawn to help, considering the history of

witches."

Her explanation of the eradication of witches makes sense now—why she'd started to answer my questions with

a history lesson. "I see."

"After you disappeared, the dreams stopped. For a long time. Until recently." She pauses, her expression serene.

"I dreamed of the Moon Goddess asking for my help. And when | accepted, | woke up here. In this garden."

Her words hang in the air, defying logic. How can she be so calm, so unfazed by such an outlandish claim? As if

the Moon Goddess visits people in their dreams.

And yet—here she is.

Her words are truth.

Selene's firm belief rings in my head, and every guard studies Mrs. Elkins with both wonder and suspicion.

There's no scent of deception to mar her words.

"How often do you have these... bizarre experiences?" one of them asks, his voice tinged with doubt.

Mrs. Elkins chuckles, her eyes twinkling. "Never before, my dear. Never before. But when a goddess calls, do you

ignore them?"

How can she take this in stride? How can she have such blind belief? My instinctive reaction to learning how

different | am... was much different. Paranoia. Fear. Frustration.

To Mrs. Elkins, it's ssort of blessing, something she accepts without gripe or grumble.

As if sensing my thoughts, Mrs. Elkins squeezes Vanessa's hand before letting go. "Interventions like this, they're

rare these days. But in the age of witches, they were much more common."

"Gods and goddesses coming to dreams?"

"Or in person. There are old stories of such times."

Selene presses against my leg and | glance down at her, finding comfort in her steady gaze.

When I look back up, Mrs. Elkins is watching me, her expression knowing. "You have a lot to learn, Ava. About

yourself, about your heritage. | wish | could help more, but alas," and she points to the book in my lap, "I only

have what has been passed down to me."

Heritage. The word feels foreign, heavy with implications I'm not ready to face. The only heritage I've ever

known is that of my pack, my identity as a wolf shifter. Even a defective one.

Now, it's like being invited into a new family. One where everyone's a stranger.

My fingers trace the worn leather, and | feel a spark of something—anticipation, maybe. Or fear.

If Mrs. Elkins is right, and the Moon Goddess somehow intervened, why did she take so long?

Why not earlier?

Why not teachmy powers before Lisa was taken? Before lives were taken?

I don't know that answer, either, Selene murmurs in apology.

Mrs. Elkins touches my forearm, her grasp warm and loving, leavingaching for those memories of life in

Cedarwood. "Everything happens for a reason, Ava. You're meant for great things. I'm sure of it."

Your destiny is what you choose, Selene murmurs. You chose your pack and your mate. This is now your fate.

My eye twitches, just a little. Didn't you tell| have no great destiny?

She sneezes, which I'm pretty sure is something she does when | catch her in little logical loops. That was before.

This is a direct result of choices you made.

So, if I had stayed in Cedarwood... My life would be different? If | had rejected Lucas? Avoided my family?

Yes. Fate is fluid.

"Ava? Are you okay?"

Her wrinkled face peers into mine; she must have said something while | was distracted by Selene.

"Thank you, Mrs. Elkins," | manage, my voice steadier than | feel. "For the book, for... for everything. I've really

missed you, and everyone in Cedarwood."

The dull pain of nostalgia, of regret, aches in my chest. | think I'm always going to miss that apartment, the first

place in this world that was truly mine. Even now, I've spent my teither in Lisa's apartment, or now at Lucas’

lodge.

The apartment was my safe haven. | miss it.

And my job.

And the people.

The old lady beams, an expression I've seen on her face many times. "You're welcome, my dear. Always

remember, you're not alone. You have friends, both old and new."

Friends. The word wraps aroundlike a balm, soothing the raw edges of my soul.

| glance at Vanessa, at Selene, at the guards who stand ready to protect me, with a rush of gratitude.

It's true. I'm not alone.

Many things have changed in recent weeks, and not all of it is bad.

You have grown, Selene agrees.

"But how are you going to go back?" Vanessa asks, kneeling in front of Mrs. Elkins. "If you didn't chere

under your own power, I'm guessing you didn't bring any identification with you?"

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