Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted - Chapter 180

Chapter 180: Ava: Alerted
Sister Miriam is gone as quickly as she appears, just as my bedroom door slams open.

“Miss Grey, are you all right?” The two guards outside my door are more familiar to me. I think they used to guard me at Lisa’s apartment, as well.

Their eyes flick to the two crumpled forms of my guards, and their noses flare at the scent of cigarettes. “We heard two thuds. What happened?”

Their words startle me out of my confusion. “Two thuds? Right now?”

“Yes, just now. What happened?”

The two fallen guards stir on the floor, groaning and grunting as they push themselves to standing. The tall one grabs his head with a curse. “Shit, that fucking hurts.”

That dhampir was here too long for them to only come in now, Selene says, grim concern darkening her words.

But it seems impossible. Did time pass slower when she was here?

Selene pads in silence to the guards slowly getting off the floor, sniffing at the head of the taller one. He swats her away, but she avoids his hand easily, wandering around the room to take whiffs of air.

It’s like she was never here, Selene marvels in confusion. This makes no sense.

“How the fuck are you two on the ground?” one of the new men snarls, pulling them to their feet with a harsh yank. “If Alpha hears about this—”

The one, Tall Asshole, snorts, swaying as he unfolds himself, still holding gingerly to the spot where the pointed tip of Sister Miriam’s heels had stabbed with her kick. “Feels like someone hit me with a fucking bat,” he mutters, casting a suspicious stare in my direction. Then he panics, patting all over his chest. “My cigarette! Fuck, where did it go?”

All four guards search the room frantically for the missing cigarette, their gazes sweeping every corner and crevice. The tall one even checks his pockets again, as if the cigarette might have magically reappeared. Their confusion is palpable.

Cigarettes don’t just go missing.

I perch on the edge of the bed, my fingers gripping the soft comforter as I observe their futile efforts. Selene sits beside me, her presence a solid warmth against my leg. Her eyes, sharp and knowing, follow the guards’ movements.

They didn’t even ask if you were okay, Selene points out, her voice tinged with disapproval. Some guards they are.

I sigh. It’s to be expected. After the massacre, I can’t blame them. We both know what they’ve seen out of me these past few days.

A child, demanding to be allowed to go out without guards.

Then a Luna missing from the scene, caring only for her own friend.

To them, I have no concern for this pack.

No concern for their alpha.

It isn’t about being their charge; it isn’t about my safety. To them, I’m not worthy of the care Lucas bestows upon me.

A filthy Blackwood, just like the rest of them.

Until I can prove otherwise, I can’t fight against their disregard.

Selene huffs, her tail thumping against the bed in agitation. Their personal feelings shouldn’t affect their job. They’re supposed to protect you, not ignore you. They’re not even worried about how they ended up unconscious. Then she pauses for a second. Well, vampires are well-versed in mental muddling. They’re probably not thinking straight.

I nod, acknowledging the validity of her argument. She’s right, of course. The guards’ primary responsibility is to ensure my safety, regardless of their opinions or the circumstances that brought us here. But as I watch them continue their search, their frustration mounting with each passing second, I can’t bring myself to voice my agreement.

I know, I tell Selene, my fingers finding comfort in the soft fur behind her ears. But I don’t want to cause a stir. I’ve done nothing to gain their respect, and everything to lose it.

Being upset over their feelings doesn’t help me move forward.

This is a situation of my own creation.

At least I can see it now, even if I don’t know how to fix it. How to change things.

There’s always the truth—a great way to start.

And if Kellan were here…

I don’t trust these wolves, Selene mutters.

But then my heart constricts. These wolves, these ones I don’t trust, who I’ve even acknowledged as having reason not to trust or respect me—they’re my pack.

The pack I’ve chosen.

So, shouldn’t I speak up?

“You won’t find it,” I tell them, as politely as I can manage.

The two who were knocked unconscious for a brief-yet-long time don’t bother to acknowledge my words. The new guards, the ones from outside the door, glance at each other, nod after a second, and then stop looking.

They stand in front of me instead. “What happened?” the one on the right says, and I focus on him. His eyes are a dark, muddy kind of blue-hazel, and his face is kind, even if suspicion has his brows drawn together and his stance somewhat standoffish.

“A vampire appeared. Right there.” I point in the general direction Sister Miriam had stood. “She kicked him,” and my finger moves to the taller one, who scowls, “in the head. Probably because she didn’t like his attitude.”

“And why would a vampire come see you, Blackwood bitch?” Sister Miriam’s victim snaps, even as his hand touches the undoubtedly sore spot on his head once again. “Cooking up another fucking bloodbath with your monster friends?”

“Enough, Alex.” Muddy-Blue Eyes admonishes him without even glancing in his direction, studying me closely. “What was her intention?”

His words are clipped and terse, but not accusing.

My shoulders relax; I hadn’t even realized I was so tense.

“She left me with a message for Lucas. For the alpha,” I correct myself swiftly. “She said he shouldn’t take so long for the rites next time.”

All four of them are quiet after that, looking at each other with confusion written all over their faces.

“They can’t be—turning wouldn’t take so long, would it?” Tall-asshole shifter mutters, as the other two look unfocused, presumably reporting to…

Actually, I don’t know who. Do they talk to Lucas directly? Or Kellan? Or someone else?

I hope it’s someone else; I don’t want Lucas or Kellan distracted during their hunt.

Damn, maybe I should have kept quiet a little longer. But I’ve turned over this new leaf of honesty and sharing and relying on allies, and it felt weird to say nothing while they were all looking for a cigarette that isn’t here anymore. Plus, they should know that a vampire can just waltz into this room… somehow.

“I wondered the same thing, but she told me it is,” and I raise my hands in the air, curving my fingers as I quote her, “‘far worse than I’m thinking.’ I don’t know what that means, though.”

“Fucking bloodsuckers.” Tall Asshole’s friend throws me an uneasy look, both suspicious and holding a good amount of self-preservative worry. “Did she say anything else?”

Not sure if I should reveal anything about the Mad Prince to them, I shake my head. Once Kellan or Lucas get here, I can explain the rest of it.

Muddy-Blue Eyes loses the unfocused stare, scowling at the two guards who’d fallen before Sister Miriam’s appearance. “Alex, Jason, you’re dismissed. Report to the Beta-Mentor. He’s furious, so be prepared to run five miles. Twenty laps around the track might even wake you idiots up. How do you let a vampire into your Alpha’s room? You’ll be lucky to have a pack when the Alpha hears about this.”

Both of them look startled, and even protest, but Muddy-Blue’s partner backs him up with a snarl. “Regardless of how you feel about her, she’s our future Luna. You’re a failure if you can’t see the priorities in front of your fucking nose.”

“She’s a Blackwood—” Alex protests, his face red and fists clenched at his side.

“Alpha rejected her—” Jason follows up, not as upset as Alex but still with the air of someone being unfairly punished.

Muddy Blue Eyes cuts them off, his words rumbling with authority. “If Alpha had rejected her, would he be bending over backward for her every time we turn around? Think with your fucking heads, you idiots. You two are so hot for Mia’s ass, you can’t even think with the two brain cells you have. Get the fuck out of here.”