Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 171 Ava: Trusting Vanessa

Vanessa shows up before dinner, with a bag full of doctor stuff and a glint in her eye that tellsI'm not doing

anything until she gets the information she needs.

So | suffer through the blood pressure, my blood being drawn and taken away by one of my new stone-faced

bodyguards, of which there are at least 6, and a lot of questions she asksevery single day.

My answers haven't changed, but she still asks them.

| watch intently as Vanessa packs up her medical supplies, my mind churning with the weight of the secrets I'm

keeping. With the half-baked plans inside my head. With my desperate need to save Lisa from whatever fate the

Mad Prince has planned.

| wet my lips, trying to find the right words.

"Vanessa, how do you feel about keeping secrets from your mate?" The question slips out before I can stop it.

She pauses, a knowing smile playing on her lips, her eyes twinkling. "Trouble in paradise already with the

overbearing Alpha?"

I glance toward the bedroom door. "Can the bodyguards hear everything we say in here?"

She looks amused. "No. Your prior Alpha had this room soundproofed."

Relief washes overand | take her hands in mine, desperation clawing at my throat. "I have secrets, Vanessa.

Secrets that | want to share with you. Most of it is stuff Lucas knows, and sare things | haven't told him yet.

But | need to know whose side you're on."

Her expression sobers, her grip tightening on my hands. "Ava, I'm loyal to the Westwood pack and to my Alpha."

She pauses, conflict flickering in her eyes. "But I'm also loyal to my Luna. | can't give you a straight answer on

where my loyalty lies. | can only promise to act on my own judgment. However, if this endangers the pack..."

"It won't," | assure her, my interruption swift. "It doesn't endanger Westwood. But Lucas won't like that I'm doing

things without his permission."

She watches me, caution on her face, even as she squeezes my hands in reassurance. "I can't give you a

straight answer without knowing what it is. My answer stands. But | am here for you, Ava."

| struggle with her response, torn between the need to unburden myself and the fear of betrayal. Selene's voice

echoes in my mind, urgingto trust Vanessa.

She's your best option right now, Selene remindsgently. You need an ally, Ava.

| take a deep breath. "Selene isn't a dog. She's my wolf."

Vanessa's expression shifts to one of bewilderment. Her brows knit together, creasing her forehead as she

processes my revelation.

"How is that possible?" she asks slowly, her eyes flickering betweenand Selene, who yawns from her spot on

the bed.

| grimace. "Honestly, I've yet to get a straight answer out of her. It's impossible. She drinks secrets for breakfast.

But Lucas knows about her."

Relief is clear in Vanessa's eyes. "Oh. That's good, at least." But | can see the wheels turning in her head as she

thinks things through.

Before she can ask for more clarity on things, | rush, "Selene thinks she can talk to my mother's wolf. | want to

try. The real problem is that we have to force her to renounce her pack in order to keep Selene's existence a

secret."

"That might kill her," the healer says automatically, glancing again toward Selene. "And only an alpha can force

a switch in pack allegiance. Even then, it's only a temporary measure. She can always bond with him again—"

"But they would need to be in physical contact."

"Yes. Which, | suppose, is unlikely to happen." Vanessa frowns. "Letthink this through for a moment. There

has to be a better way."

It would be good if there is, Selene agrees.

| watch as Vanessa paces around the room, her brow furrowed in concentration. She mutters under her breath,

occasionally shaking her head as if dismissing ideas that don't quite fit. The sight of her deep in thought, trying

to find a solution to our predicament, sends a flicker of hope through my chest.

Settling onto the bed beside Selene, | run my fingers through her soft fur, focusing on the sensation of her head

and ears beneath my touch. It's a small comfort amidst the chaos swirling in my mind.

"Is it possible for Selene to pull the wolf's presence out if the human host is unconscious?" Vanessa asks

suddenly, her gaze intense as she looks at me.

| glance down at Selene, who tilts her head, considering the question. It might be possible, she admits, her voice

echoing in my mind. But there are too many variables to say for certain.

"Selene says it might be possible, but there are too many variables to know for sure," | relay to Vanessa,

watching as she absorbs the information.

Vanessa nods, her expression thoughtful. "And what about your mother's wolf? Will she be loyal to Renard?"

The question catchesoff guard, and | find myself at a loss for words. Loyalty is a complex thing, especially

when it comes to the dynamics between a wolf and their alpha.

It's unlikely, Selene chimes in, sensing my uncertainty. Strong wolves usually chafe under alpha demands. But

the bond between your mother and her wolf is strong. It may override any desire to break free from Renard's

control.

| repeat Selene's words to Vanessa, my heart sinking at the realization that even if we manage to separate my

mother from her wolf, there's no guarantee that the wolf will be on our side.

My entire plan rests on trying to convince the wolf to betray her alpha.

Vanessa absorbs the information, her lips pressed into a thin line. "So, we have a potential way to communicate

with your mother's wolf, but no assurance that the wolf will cooperate."

I nod, my fingers tangling in Selene's fur as | try to quell the rising anxiety in my chest. "It's a risk," | admit, my

voice barely above a whisper. "But it might be our only chance to get sanswers."

Vanessa meets my gaze, her eyes filled with a mixture of concern and determination. "I don't like the idea of

putting you in danger, Ava. But | understand the need for answers." She sighs, running a hand through her hair.

"Letthink a little more. I think this might work, but there are different things to consider..."

Her voice trails off as she paces again, clearly deep in thought.

"Thank you, Vanessa. | know this isn't an easy situation."

Distracted by her plotting, she tossesa vague smile. "Nothing about this is easy, Ava. But we'll figure it out.

I'm not sure how we'll..."

Her voice trails off again as she begins to mutter.

| think she has a solid plan, Selene pipes up. The only issue will be getting our hands on something that will

knock your mother out.

| shake my head slightly. Even if we do that, her wolf can always tell her about you. Then the danger is still there.

She can mind-link with anyone still in the pack, and if they can get word back...

Selene goes silent, just in tfor my phone to ring.

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