Tangled

304 Ava: Selene's Presence

The crowd falls silent, a wave of submission rippling through the gathered wolves. Some drop to their knees, eyes averted, while others struggle against the invisible force emanating from Selene. I watch in awe as her aura pulses, a shimmering curtain of power that washes over even the strongest wolves until they, too, lower their heads in deference.III

Even Kellan has his gaze lowered.

Only Lucas stands, unaffected.

but I can't

Of course. I would never undermine his authority here. Selene sounds way too smug. blame her. This display of raw power is unlike anything I've ever witnessed, and it's coming from my wolf-from a part of me I'm realizing I took for granted.

Lucas seizes the moment, his voice ringing out clear and authoritative. "Wolves of the Westwood Pack, bear witness. Ava Grey stands before you as your one true Luna. She is my mate, chosen by fate and accepted by me. I demand your loyalty, your respect, and your unwavering support for

her

His words carry weight, each syllable heavy with the command of an Alpha. I feel their impact. through our newly forged pack bond, a ripple of energy that seems to reinforce Selene's display of dominance.

Now is the time for your speech, Ava, Selene's voice echoes in my mind. Show them who you are.

I take a deep breath, steadying myself. This is my moment-our moment. I step forward, feeling the

eyes of every wolf upon me. The silence is deafening, expectant.

"Wolves of the Westwood Pack, I begin, my voice stronger than I expected. "I stand before you not just as Lucas' mate, but as a warrior in my own right." Though the idea of calling myself a warrior falls flat in my head, Selene assured me it's the right word to use. "I may not have been born into this pack, but I choose it. I choose you."

I pause, letting my gaze sweep across the crowd. Some faces are still wary, others curious, but all are attentive.

"I know many of you have doubts. You've heard rumors, whispers of a Luna without a wolf. But as you can see, those rumors were false. Selene is my wolf, as much a part of me as your wolves are a part of you. We are different, yes, but that difference is our strength." I gesture to Selene, who sits regally by my side. "In Selene, I carry the wisdom of ages, the strength of our forebears. Through her, I am connected to the very essence of what it means to be a wolf. And through me, she is tied to humanity in a way no ordinary wolf can be."

I can feel the crowd's energy shifting, curiosity replacing wariness. I press on, emboldened, but the weight of my words is heavy on my tongue. "I won't lie to you. The road ahead is difficult. We face threats from all sides-vampires, rogue wolves, even traitors within our own ranks. But we are not helpless. We are not weak."

Cada Ava Salorier's Preistince

My voice grows stronger. "We are the Westwood Pack. We are survivors, fighters, a family bound by more than just blood. We will rise again. With every last drop of my blood, with every last breath, I promise to serve as your Luna and lend my strength to our pack "You did great," Lucas says, rubbing a hand over my back. Lisa's not in the cabin-Kellan whisked her away, and I'm not asking questions. I'm sure I'll hear the details later.

For now, Lucas and I are alone.

Well, almost.

I forgot how it feels to be with a pack, Selene says, sounding almost blissful as she wiggles her husky body between us, shoving at Lucas' arm until he pets her instead of me.

His eyes flicker. "Did she just say something? I think I almost heard it.

"She did. Said she forgot how it feels to be a part of a pack

That bit of light in his eyes goes dark. "Oh. I sec."

My heart hurts as his face shuts down. "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize." Lucas pinches my car in a way that should be playful, but feels to me as if he's just masking his pain. "I'm proud of you.

"Is it hard?" I ask, as Selene wiggles even harder, wedging herself more firmly between us as we sit on the couch. "Not feeling the pack? Can you tell it's missing? I've never felt a pack before."

"There's an emptiness. Like a hole that can't be filled. Lucas rubs Selene's ear tips, and my dog-wolf lets out an enormous, pleased sigh over the affection. "I know what it should feel like, but I can't remember having it

We should call Sister Miriam, Selene opines, licking his hand. She has a theory on his memory,

Damn. I hadn't even thought of asking while she was here-

We were focused on you, Luna.

Hearing the title from my own wolf makes my skin crin

cringe.

"Lucas, do you mind if we consult with Sister Miriam? Selene says she might have some ideas on restoring your memories."

His hand pauses in its gentle fluffing of Selene's cars, his gold

fine"

gaze intense on mine. That's

But he sounds oddly unenthused at the idea of regaining his memories.

"What's wrong?

"Nothing's wrong, Lucas says, his voice low and husky. Before I can press further, he grabs my waist and pulls me over Selene, settling me onto his lap.

The sudden movement catches me off guard. My hands instinctively brace against his chest

304 Ava: Selene's Presence

feeling the solid warmth beneath his shirt. The scent of amber and campfire smoke envelops me, bringing a familiar tingle to my skin.

Selene, ever perceptive, takes her cue. She slides off the couch, her nails clicking against the

floor as she pads to the door. With a few determined scratches and nudges, she manages to get it open and slips outside.

A guard's face appears in the doorway, concern etched on his features, Lucas's reaction is Immediate and fierce.

"Close the door," he snaps, his voice a low growl that sends shivers down my spine.

The guard quickly complies, the door slamming shut.

In the sudden silence, I'm acutely aware of Lucas's breathing, deep and slightly ragged. He buries his face in the crook of my neck, inhaling deeply. His stubble scratches against my skin, sending tingles of electricity through my body.

"Are you doing this on purpose?" he murmurs against my skin, his lips brushing my pulse point. My breath catches in my throat. "Doing what?"

His hands tighten on my waist, pulling me closer. "Smelling like this. It's driving me crazy. Like you want me to breed you."

Lucas's words send a shiver through me, his hot breath against my neck igniting a fire in my core. My body responds instinctively, pressing closer to him as if drawn by an invisible force. "I'm not doing anything on purpose," I manage to stammer, my voice barely above a whisper.

In

His lips brush against my skin, trailing up to my ear. "Are you sure about that, Luna?"

The title, spoken in his deep, husky voice, sends another wave of heat through me. My fingers curl into the fabric of his shirt, desperate for something to anchor me as the world starts to spin. Are these two wolves or bunnies?