Moonlit Bonds

Chapter 461: Ava: Row Your Boat

Chapter 461: Ava: Row Your Boat

My lungs burn as we sprint through Wolf's Landing, the ghost floating beside us, humming a distorted version of

"Row Your Boat" while Eleanor struggles to keep pace. Snow crunches underfoot, but | barely hear it over my

pounding heartbeat.

"Is the hospital far?" Eleanor pants behind me, clutching her journal to her chest like a shield.

"It's right there." | don’t slow down, but | do feel bad for the girl.

Still—my mind’s focused on Lucas and all the injuries from their fight. Vester didn’t give many details, but if

they're in the hospital, it can’t be good.

The ghost drifts ahead, twirling like a deranged ballerina. "Ring around the roses, pockets full of posies, ashes,

ashes, they all fall DOWN!"

He screams the last word, swooping low over two wolves carrying supplies, who flinch despite themselves. They

can’t touch him, but they sure as hell can see him.

The flying didn’t start until we entered Wolf's Landing. He was walking before.

Grimoire, can you do anything about him? | ask desperately.

Nope.

Simple and to the point. His denial is a wall of stone. Lovely. | always wanted a spectral stalker who sings nursery

rhymes.

The hospital is bustling, with people rushing both in and out.

Again, Vester hadn't said much. The key words were: vampires, ambush, several injured and/or dead.

At the entrance, | nearly collide with a young man carrying bloody bandages. It takes a second to realize it's

Wes.

"Where's Lucas?" | demand.

"The biggest room, Luna." His eyes dart nervously to the ghost hovering behind me, then to Eleanor. "The beta’s

there too. Do you need—? No? I'm here if you need anything!"

His shout follows behindas | shove my way through the crowd.

"So many broken puppies," the ghost coos.

Eleanor’s still with me, I think. If she isn’t, Vester will take care of her.

Not bothering to knock, | slam the door open and rush inside.

Lucas stands with his back to me, his shoulders tense as he speaks with Vanessa. Kellan’s the one on a hospital

bed this time, his torso heavily bandaged, face pale, and eyes alert. Lisa hovers beside him, one hand clutching

his, the other resting protectively on his shoulder. She looks up when | enter, and she looks... terrible.

Shadows under her eyes. A pale line around her lips. Something dark and grim in her face.

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"Ava," Lucas says, turning at the sound of the door. The moment our eyes meet, something insideuncoils.

He's alive. He's safe.

| already knew, but—it’s still good to see it for myself.

He crosses the room in three long strides and pullsinto a crushing embrace, burying his face in my hair. |

melt against him, breathing in his scent of amber and campfire smoke, letting it settle my frayed nerves.

"You're okay," he murmurs against my ear.

"You're the one who was fighting vampires," | whisper back, my voice breaking. "I just picked up strays."

Speaking of which—the ghost twirls into the room with a flourish, floating up to the ceiling and continuing his

creepy ballet above our heads. Eleanor steps in behind me, her eyes wide as she takes in the scene.

Lucas stiffens, his arms tightening aroundas he notices our companions. "Ava," he says slowly, "who are

your friends?"

Guess Vester didn’t give him a heads-up.

Then again... how does one explain the ghost?

| pull back just enough to meet his gaze. "It's a long story."

"The Alpha’s mate!" the ghost shrieks with delight, swooping down so close to Lucas that he flinches back

instinctively. "The wolf who killed his father for power! But you didn’t, did you? The rumors lie, lie, lie like little

dead things on the ground!"

My mate's eyes narrow dangerously. "What the hell is that?"

"A ghost, apparently," | say, feeling a headache building behind my eyes. "He followed us from the perimeter. We

can’t touch him, and he won't leave."

"And her?" Lucas nods toward Eleanor, who clutches her journal tighter.

"Eleanor Wright," she says before | can answer, her voice surprisingly steady despite her obvious nervousness.

"I'm a researcher of paranormal phenomena. | found Ava while tracking a unique magical signature."

His eyebrows shoot up, and he looks atwith a silent question. | squeeze his hand.

"She’s human," | explain quietly. "A witch."

Understanding dawns in his eyes, followed by wariness. He turns to Eleanor with a carefully neutral expression.

"Welcto Wolf's Landing, Ms. Wright. I'm Lucas Westwood, Alpha of the Westwood Pack."

Eleanor’s mouth twists. Her gaze darts between us. "You're all wolf shifters."

"Yes," Lucas answers simply.

"And Ava is..." Eleanor trails off, staring atwith new eyes.

"My mate," Lucas says, his arm wrapping possessively around my waist.

Eleanor looks like she’s been smacked with a physics textbook. "Ah-hah. Yeah. Okay. This makes sense."

The way her fingers tighten on the journal says otherwise, and | wonder what she was thinking about Vester and

the others on the way here. Did she think they were pets?

| heard shumans don’t really understand packs, so it would make sense—but it’s a little disappointing.

"I'm not a wolf," Lisa pipes up from Kellan’s side, a hint of her usual humor returning despite the strain in her

eyes. "Just an ordinary human caught in sfurry ."

"Oh," Eleanor says faintly. "Me, too."

"What happened?" | ask, finally turning my full attention to my mate's beta. His bandages are stark white

against his tanned skin.

"The Mad Prince," Lucas says, his voice going cold. "We encountered him and his vampires during the rescue

mission."

My blood runs cold. "The Mad Prince? We found him, then?"

Eleanor’s confused expression only deepens, but | ignore her for now. There are more pressing matters.

"Ambushed Kellan’s group," Lucas confirms. "It was chaos, but we managed to get there in time. Thanks to your

Magister friend, anyway."

The ghost cackles overhead, spinning in dizzying circles. "The Mad Prince! The Mad Prince! Wants his little kitten

back, but the wolf won't share, no no no!"

Lisa flinches, her fingers tightening visibly on Kellan’s shoulder.

"We need to talk," Lucas says to me, his voice low enough that only | can hear.

"Later," | murmur, touching his arm. "|

promise. But first | need to get

Eleanor situated PRGHELE afb) |

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novelenglish.net! Read the latest

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"| was thinking of putting her with

Magister Orion and Pip," | suggesh

loud enough foreyeybne fo hear.

Shas iNterdsted in magic, and the

Magister might have insights that

could help her research.” The content

is on novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

"Oh—I wanted to learn from you..."

She flinches when Lucas looks at her and backpedals immediately. "But this Magister guy sounds nice. Is he a

witch, too?"

Grimoire snorts. A Fae witch. The world has changed.

"No." | bite at my lip, trying to fight a smile. Eleanor seems a little flummoxed we've entered a world of wolves;

how's she going to react to a Fae? "He's something better. You'll like him."

Lisa clears her throat, sounding hesitant as she says, "That might be good for Pip, actually. Having someone new

around. | think she needs more friends."

Oh? I'm so curious to know what Lisa’s learned, but—God, it feels a little like | need to make a calendar and

schedule meetings so | can get everything done.

Lucas sighs, rubbing his forehead. "Everything's happening so fast again. We need to be on guard."

It's like he’s reading my mind, only he can't.

Not yet, Selene agrees.

"Check on Clayton and the Aspen

wolves when you can," he adds,

looking right attHerefuédt is

cB al, Without any sign of strain in

his face. "Make sure they're okay. I'm

not sure how many he lost." The

content is on novelenglish.net! Read

the latest chapter there!

| nod. "No problem."

Grimoire sounds thoughtful. Is he not worried about the alpha taking you away?

Not anymore, and my shoulders feel so light for it.