Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted novel Chapter 335

A low, mournful keen jerks me out of a dead sleep.

Beside me, Aurum’s massive form twitches and writhes, soft whimpers escaping his muzzle.

"Selene, what’s happening?"

I think Lucas is waking, Selene’s voice echoes in my mind. She’s curled protectively around Aurum, her silver head resting atop his golden one.

My breath catches as hope surges in my chest. It’s taken so much longer than I expected.

Aurum lets out another pitiful whine, his paws scrabbling against the sheets. I reach out instinctively, wanting to comfort him, but Selene’s head jerks up.

Enemies.

"What do you mean?" My question is sharper than intended.

Intruders. Get dressed. Now. Kellan’s on his way.

I bolt out of bed, even though I don’t understand.

Then a strange, vibrating ping resonates inside my head.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Intruders repelled by the ward, Grimoire says with absolute calm. We need to find out what’s going on.

I scramble into the first clothes I can grab, my heart pounding so hard I can barely hear Selene in my head.

As I rush out the door, I collide with two familiar figures.

"Oof!" Lisa stumbles back, caught off guard.

Kellan steadies her with one hand while ushering us all back inside with the other. He closes the door behind us, his movements quick but controlled.

"A scouting party found traces of a strange group near camp," he explains in a hushed tone, his eyes darting between Lisa and me.

My stomach drops. "Someone was near the northeastern wards," I blurt out. "I can pinpoint exactly which ones were tripped. They didn’t make it through, though."

"How far do your wards extend?"

I shake my head, frustration and fear mingling in my gut. If only I’d pushed myself harder. I could have had more wards placed. "Not even halfway around the perimeter." The admission feels like failure.

Pushing past my self-doubt, I grab the map from the nearby table, spreading it out. My finger traces the line where the wards end, then taps the spots where they were triggered. "This is where we’re warded. And here. This is where they hit. Three, almost one after another."

Kellan leans in, his brow furrowing. "That’s farther than I thought they’d be. They’re moving fast."

The gravity of the situation is not lost on me. Another fight. We’ve just settled in after the last one. "How did they get so close without us noticing?"

Probably scent blockers, Selene’s voice echoes in my mind, her tone laced with concern.

Before I can respond, the air in the room shifts. A familiar figure materializes in the center of the floor, and I gasp. Sister Miriam stands before us, her eyes wild and her clothes splattered with blood.

A group of vampires killed and injured so many during the first invasion of pack lands. Can we stand up to them when we’re already this weak? Without Lucas? _{freewebnσvel.cøm}