Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted - Chapter 331

Chapter 331: Ava: Wes
The new wolf turns, and I feel a flicker of recognition. I know him from somewhere, but his name escapes me. He jogs over, a friendly smile on his face. Young. Really young. A little scrawny compared to the others, but broad-shouldered and tan. Tousled blond hair.

“Hi Luna, I’m Wes. Follow me.”

As we start walking, I try to place where I’ve seen him before. “How are you doing, Wes?”

He shrugs, his smile fading slightly. “It’s been rough for everyone, but we’re managing.”

I study his face, trying to gauge his age. He’s barely more than a kid, judging by the patchy scruff across his face. “If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you?”

Wes glances at me and laughs. “I’m sixteen.”

My eyes widen in shock. “Sixteen,” I repeat, my voice soft. Yet he’s wearing tactical clothes similar to those my guards wear.

He nods, then adds, “We used to train together under Amara.”

That’s why I recognize him. Memories of those group training sessions flash through my mind, and I feel a pang of guilt for not remembering him sooner.

“You’re a lot different from what the rumors said,” Wes comments, pulling me from my thoughts.

I raise an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. I knew there were rumors, but no one’s been willing to repeat them in my presence. “Oh? What kind of rumors?”

Wes looks sheepish for a moment. “Well, I used to believe you were just a filthy Blackwood, manipulating the Alpha. That you didn’t have a wolf and were utterly worthless.” He rushes to add, “But that changed when I watched you training. You worked harder than anyone.”

Perhaps not all those eyes I felt on me during training were filled with suspicion or derision. Maybe some, like Wes, were watching with growing respect.

A wave of regret washes over me as I once again realize how prickly and defensive I’ve been. How many potential allies did I push away with my walls of ice?

“Where’s your wolf today?” Wes asks, breaking the silence that had fallen between us.

“She’s resting,” I reply, grateful for the change in subject.

Wes nods, a hint of excitement in his voice. “It’s pretty cool that our Luna has a separate wolf. It’s all anyone’s been talking about lately.”

I’m not sure how to respond to that. But Wes’s enthusiasm is infectious, and I find myself smiling despite my unease.

“It’s certainly unique,” I agree, trying to keep my tone light. “But tell me more about you, Wes. How are you handling all of this?”

His face clouds over. “One day I’m worrying about training and school, and the next we’re running for our lives. But…” He straightens his shoulders, a determined look in his eyes. “I want to help. I want to protect our pack.”

His words strike a chord within me. Here’s this kid, only four years younger than I am, facing dangers no teenager should have to face. Yet he’s stepping up, ready to fight for his pack. For our pack.

We walk in companionable silence for a few moments before Wes speaks up again. “We’re almost there. The storage area is just around this bend.”

How dire is our situation, exactly? I hope Kellan hasn’t been feeding me in relative luxury compared to the others. Not that sandwiches are particularly luxurious in normal times, but these days are different.

“Thank you for showing me the way, Wes. And thank you for being honest with me. It means a lot.”

* * *

It’s honestly amazing no one’s starved to death.

The shelves are practically empty. We have some beans and rice, cans of tuna, and several jars of peanut butter and jelly. There’s flour and sugar, but no other baking supplies.

There’s also bread, eggs, and several jars for protein shakes. Oatmeal. Some boxes of cereal and a shelf filled with Pop-Tarts, with a simple paper taped to it saying “Only For Children.” Only a few cases of bottled water left.

“Is this all?”

“We have a refrigerator inside, but yes. It’s meager, but we do have people going out to hunt. There’s a small vegetable garden, and we’re making a greenhouse to extend our yield as long as possible.” Wes points at a cupboard on a far wall. “We do have a small amount of cookies and chocolate for children, too.”

“I see.”

The sight of the nearly barren shelves has my stomach twisting. It’s sobering to be here, to see it for myself.

“What are people most worried about right now?”

Wes shifts his weight, his eyes darting around the storage area before settling back on me. “Well, Luna, there’s a lot of concern because Alpha hasn’t been around much lately. But honestly, most of the stress is about food and making sure the kids will be okay through the winter.”

“How are people coping?”

“Most are just taking it day by day,” Wes says with a shrug. “It’s all we can do, really.”

A knot forms in my throat as I consider my next question. “Wes, have you heard much talk against Lucas?”

His face freezes, and I can see the internal struggle playing out in his eyes. Slowly, he lowers his head, avoiding my gaze. “Yes, Luna.”

My heart sinks, but I press on. “Are they talking about challenges?”

Wes nods, still not meeting my eyes.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for his answer. “Do you feel the same way?”

His head snaps up, eyes wide with surprise and a hint of hurt. “No! Absolutely not, Luna. Alpha’s been good for the pack. He’s done so much for us, even if… even if things are difficult right now.”

The intensity of his disagreement catches me off guard. I can see the frustration etched in the lines of his face, the way his jaw clenches as he speaks. It’s clear this situation is weighing heavily on him, perhaps more than I initially realized.

Deciding to change the subject, I gesture back to the sparse shelves. “Let’s talk more about the food situation. What are we most in need of?”

Wes seems to relax slightly at the shift in topic. “Well, there’s a real lack of milk for the kids. That’s been tough. But a lot of the adults have been getting by on what we’re hunting. So it’s not quite as dire as it might look here.”

I raise an eyebrow, considering his words. “That might work for now, but what about when winter comes? The hunting will get harder, won’t it?”

He nods, his expression grim. “We’re all worried about that. The cold months are going to be tough if we can’t stock up more before then.”

When I resolved to become a good Luna, I didn’t realize I’d be taking over during a situation like this.

Trial by fire.

There’s no point bemoaning fate. We’re here. We’re struggling. And I’m supposed to help these people.

You’re doing great. Ask him about the hunts. It sounds like people are hunting for themselves and not for the pack.

“Who are our best hunters?”

“Ah—I don’t know, Luna. We have a few families who aren’t doing bad right now. They don’t take much from the kitchens, I think.”

“Okay. Show me these refrigerators. Do we have freezers, too?”

“Yes.”