Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted - Chapter 380

Chapter 380: Lucas: Their Bond Wants More
LUCAS

Being blindsided by the enemy sends pure rage through my body, but I struggle to keep it contained, to hide the depth of my fury from my sweet little mate and her human friend.

They’re busy blaming themselves, and I’m ready to burn the world down for bringing this onto their shoulders.

This Mad Prince has gone too far once again. I already have a large blood debt to pay; this has brought it back to urgent priority.

Aurum paces beneath my skin as I watch my mate push a bowl of stew into Lisa’s trembling hands. The human’s face remains pale, her eyes haunted. Even after proving her strength in battle, she looks fragile enough to shatter.

“You need to eat.” Ava’s voice carries that gentle tone she uses with injured wolves. “Please, Lise.”

Lisa stares into the bowl as if it holds answers rather than meat and vegetables. “I’m not hungry.”

“Just a few bites. The protein will help.”

“Kellan.” I keep my voice low as I motion him closer. “We need to implement those changes now.”

He nods, following me to the corner of the room. “The rotating patrol schedule?”

“Yes. I want the best trackers we have checking the perimeter twice daily.”

I tap my fingers against my thigh, considering our options. “Our supply runs will need double the guards. Make sure we have them staggered so no one knows where they’re going. We’ve been too complacent, shopping too close.”

“And the taint?”

That’s the real problem. Without Ava’s purification, the corruption will spread. But we can’t risk her, either.

“Any sign of taint, the area gets quarantined immediately. No exceptions.”

“The hunting parties won’t like that.”

“The hunting parties can starve or adapt. I won’t lose more wolves to this corruption. She’ll still be purifying, just at a slower rate. That’s all.”

“Lucas.” Ava’s voice draws my attention. She’s gotten Lisa to eat half the bowl, but the human looks ready to fall over. The shadows under her eyes speak of bone-deep exhaustion.

“Go,” I tell Kellan. “Take her home.”

Lisa stiffens. “What about Mira’s—” Her voice breaks.

“Her burial rites won’t be today,” Ava says gently. “Get some rest.”

The door clicks shut behind Lisa and Kellan. My mate’s shoulders slump, and I pull her closer, letting her lean into my strength. Her scent carries the sharp tang of exhaustion mixed with honey and vanilla. The combination twists my protective instincts into knots.

“She’ll need time.” My thumb traces circles on Ava’s hip. “Kellan will watch over her.”

“I just hate seeing her like this. She’s always been the strong one.”

“She’s still strong. Taking a life changes you, even when necessary.”

“I should have been there faster.”

I turn her to face me, cupping her face between my palms. “Don’t. You did everything possible. Stop acting like you can stop every bad thing in the world from happening. It’s impossible.”

Her ice-blue eyes shimmer with unshed tears. The weight of leadership sits heavy on her small frame—my fierce little mate who takes every loss personally. Who feels responsible for everyone under our protection. She’s changed so much since taking on the responsibilities of Luna.

It’s a source of deep pride that my mate has shown herself so worthy of the title, but she has yet to learn how to find balance between the sorrows and joys.

“The Mad Prince won’t stop.” She presses her forehead against my chest. “He’s going to keep coming after her. If he’s been looking for her even with the world in such a state, nothing’s going to stop him.”

“Let him try.” A growl edges into my voice; our pack’s history with this single vampire is enough to light the rage simmering in my blood. “He’ll find we are not as unprepared as before.”

Aurum rises closer to the surface, and I breathe in Ava’s scent to calm him. My wolf wants blood—wants to hunt down every threat to our mate and pack. But rushing in without planning would only put more lives at risk.

We need to find the bloodsucker first. Then…

“I need you to promise me something.” I stroke my fingers through her blonde hair. “No more solo missions. Not until we deal with this threat. You can’t take on responsibility for every single bit of corruption we find. We’ll do what we can, but you have to put your safety first.”

She tenses against me. “But it’s a danger to everyone if we let it continue.”

“I mean it, little witch. We’re all aware of what you’ve done to keep us safe, and we’re grateful. I’m not saying you won’t be going out at all. We just need to be more careful. Coordinate everything. Either Kellan or I need to be with you at all times.” Ideally, it would be me every time. But the reality of life as Alpha is that I can’t do everything on my own.

A soft huff of breath warms my shirt. “You can’t argue with me when I tell you what to do once we’re at the taint.”

“Deal.” I press a kiss to her temple. The familiar spark of our connection tingles across my skin.

Our bond pulses between us, a living thing demanding attention. My fingers tighten in Ava’s hair as her breath warms my chest. The rage still burns hot in my blood, but my focus—our bond’s focus—shifts. The need to hunt transforms into something else entirely.

“You’re tense.” Her hands slide up my back.

A growl builds in my chest. That single gentle touch sparks a possessive need to claim. To mark. To lose myself in her scent until nothing exists but us.

In a perfect world, I’d hide her from everyone, burying ourselves in each other as the world burns, just to keep her safe. But life isn’t that easy, and too many people are under our protection.

“Lucas?”

I capture her mouth with mine, knowing the passion burning in me is a byproduct of fear. Fear of losing her, fury at the audacity of our enemies.

She tastes like the savory stew she forced her best friend to eat. And exhaustion. And home. And love.

Her soft gasp feeds the fire burning through my veins. My hands drop to her hips, lifting her against me.

“Need you.” The words come out rough. Primal. “Right now.”

“Now?” Her eyes are glazed with passion and confusion. “But we…”

I silence her with another kiss, deeper this time. More demanding. Her fingers curl into my shirt as she melts against me. The bond in my chest thrums with approval, with want, with need. It demands more.

I can’t feed it the blood of our enemies, but at least I can deepen the connection between us.

“Now,” I confirm. Her neck is warm, her scent blooming from her skin. I can already smell the desire dampening between her legs.

Her pulse races under my lips. “We’re supposed to be planning—”

“Later.” I nip at her skin, drawing a sharp inhale from her. “Let me have this moment with my mate. Isn’t our bond screaming for it?”

She shivers as my hands slip under her shirt, tracing the soft skin of her back. The bond floods with her desire, matching mine, amplifying it. The anger transforms completely into raw need.

“You’re impossible.” But she’s already tugging at my shirt, her touch eager despite her words.