webnovel

Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted

Autor: Lenaleia
Fantasy
Laufend · 6.3M Ansichten
  • 434 Kaps
    Inhalt
  • 4.6
    142 Bewertungen
  • NO.49
    UNTERSTÜTZEN
Zusammenfassung

Being the pack defect is bad enough. Getting REJECTED? By your own fated mate? Yeah. THAT is a whole new level of low. Ava Grey is the pack defect, a wolfless shifter. She struggles through life with the vague dream of freedom. Her opportunity comes when she's suddenly informed that she will be attending the Lunar Gala, an annual ball for young adult shifters to find their fated mates. And she finds him. He's beautiful and intense, and his kisses send desire through her veins like a drug. Until he REJECTS her. Ava isn't about to go back to her dreary life. She escapes and forges a new identity far from her pack, and far from her alpha mate. She makes new friends and is even forcefully adopted by a hilarious husky. But just as she settles in and finds happiness, strange things begin to happen... Her husky has been holding secrets. She's hearing whispers that shifter packs all over are looking for her. And she can smell a familiar scent in her apartment, which makes no sense at all... because the man it belongs to rejected her. FEBRUARY 2024 UPDATE: Updates scheduled for 5-7 days a week as I continue recovering and working on my new WSA entry. Thank you for your patience as we move into book 7! --------- This is a wolf shifter romance with multiple triggers that like to waltz hand in hand with all the dark themes through a meadow of dead flowers. In this book you will find the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Laugh, cry, rage; you can do them all as you follow Ava in the rather perilous journey of being a wolf shifter in this generation of werewolf romance. There are R18 scenes sprinkled throughout this book like candy popping out of a pinata. Please read responsibly. ------- AUTHOR DISCORD: https://discord.com/invite/ApNZDux8kj

Tags
10 tags
Chapter 1Ava Grey, Pack Defect

Author Note: The first two chapters have had a complete overhaul, for a better reading experience. Please enjoy. [May 28, 2024]

________________

What are you supposed to do when your pack—your family—has decided you're worthless?

Get a job.

Save money.

Dream of getting the hell out of there.

It's a futile thing to hope for, but it's the only thing I have that keeps me going.

Until then? I'm just me. Ava Grey. Wolfless. Weak. The shame of the Grey family.

Which is why I'm spending another Friday night working at Beaniverse, a popular coffeeshop in the middle of White Peak, a solid hour's drive away from pack land. No shifters, no drama, no bullying; the only people I run into all day are humans with a caffeine addiction. Or social media addictions. People love to use our lobby as a backdrop for their latest reel.

"Come out with me tonight."

Lisa pops her head into my field of view as I wipe down the espresso machine.

I have no major attachments to my job outside of my pay, but it is my favorite place to be because of her. Lisa is my best friend—okay, my only friend—and she makes me dream of something more than the Blackwood Pack and my uncertain future in it.

"Can't. Dad wants me home as soon as I can."

The grimace that twists her face gives me a warm little tingle in my chest. At least someone gets me.

Even if she's a human and has no idea that I come from a family of wolves.

Dad—our pack beta and an expert at curt text messages demanding my presence home—only allowed me to get a job because he was tired of seeing me at home, I'm pretty sure.

And because every single cent of my paychecks that didn't go to gas went to the thousand dollars I'd borrowed for my beat-up old clunker Taurus in the parking lot. It's my baby, and I love it, but I'm one weird splutter away from wrecking on the highway.

Still—the little freedom it allows me is worth it.

Anything is better than being home.

"You should just move out. We can get an apartment together and party all night." Lisa says this just about every day we work together, and it never grows old. I want that life, too. I don't even need the partying. I just want to get away from my pack.

But wolf shifters don't just let go of their own. Even wolfless defects like me.

I shove my glasses up the bridge of my nose, hating how they slide. I probably need a new prescription, but I haven't had the time—or extra money—to pour into that. I'm still wearing the same glasses Mom got me (much to her disgust) several years ago.

It's like a neon sign saying she doesn't belong with us.

No shifter has bad eyesight. It's like a gift from our wolves.

Only I don't have a wolf.

I flick the dirty towel in her direction, watching her squeal and jump back. "I would if I could, and you know it. Aren't you supposed to be restocking our cups? Our dinner rush is going to come in any minute."

"Fine, fine—but I still think one night of telling him to fuck off won't hurt. Maybe it'll teach your parents that you're an adult and they can't control you."

Hah.

That won't ever happen.

Dad's the pack beta. Even if he acknowledged me as an independent adult, I'd still have to do what he says. The only person above him in the pack is our alpha—also not someone I'd like to cross on a daily basis.

"It's a cultural thing," I mutter, and she drops it. For now.

Lisa will come back to it. She always does. She's been showing me apartments for rent, coming up with mock budgets, even discussing our school schedules. Lisa's pushy in the sweetest way, where she's just desperate for me to become independent.

She was the first person to notice the control my family has over me.

The first person to care.

The first person to say words that I still can't admit out loud.

"Your family is abusive. Who the hell does this?"

My family loved me once. Before I came of age and they realized I had no wolf at all.

I have warm memories. Sweet memories. Memories that I bring out at night during my lowest times. Memories of Mom when she used to smile and laugh and rock me when I cried. Memories of Dad when he would throw me onto his shoulders and tell me I could reach the stars. Memories of Jessa and Phoenix when they would call me their baby sister, and show me off proudly to anyone they saw.

Good times.

Gone times.

Maybe it would hurt a little less if I hadn't shared that affection with them once. Maybe it would hurt a little less if it hadn't simply… disappeared. If Mom's blue eyes hadn't gone from warm like a lake in summer to frigid winter skies. If Dad hadn't thrown me into the woods with no clothes, no food, and no shelter, telling me to survive. That the hardship would bring me what I wanted most, what I was missing.

My wolf.

Spoiler alert—it didn't work. He's still mad about it.

* * *

Leaving work is always a little production in the parking lot after closing. Lisa never leaves until I'm safely on the road, half in worry that my car will break down (and honestly, I have the same fears), and the other half because she's concerned I'm going to get mugged.

When I pointed out to her months ago that she could have the same things happen, she grabbed my hand and said seriously, "You would help me. So I'm going to help you."

I love her.

There's a little guilt that even with my one and only friend, my ride-or-die girl, I have yet to admit that I'm a shifter. I haven't explained to her that I'm from the local pack.

She just thinks I'm neglected and abused from a normal human family, and I have to convince her not to call the cops at least twice a week. Especially when I show up with new bruises.

They wouldn't be able to do anything, anyway.

The pack has different laws. No part of the government would interfere in pack matters.

Honestly, the only way to guarantee my escape from my family and pack is to find my fated mate in another. I dream about it—we all do. It's a fantasy I can't let go of.

But sometimes it hurts to even think about the possibility, because there's always the chance that I have no fated mate.

Or worse, that my life in a new pack is just like my life here.

The night air is warmer than usual for the beginning of spring, but the crisp scent of rain is carried on the breeze, telling us all that a temperature drop is coming.

The scenery changes from the bright, artificially lit business strip to the quiet neighborhoods of White Peak, occasionally lit by a street lamp every block or so. Eventually, those buildings give way to an unlit rural road that leads into the Blackwood Pack territory.

The road is familiar; I've driven it countless times in my life, but tonight, it feels different.

It's darker than usual, under the waxing crescent moon. The trees seem to close in on me, casting long shadows across the road. My grip tightens on the steering wheel as I navigate the twists and turns, feeling my anxiety wriggle about in my belly, like a fish dashing about in shark-infested waters.

The silence in my car is palpable, almost suffocating. My eyes dart to the rearview mirror every few seconds, half expecting to see glowing eyes or shadows lurking in the darkness behind me.

Being the pack defect means you're also the pack punching bag. One of the young wolves' favorite pastimes is hunting the wolfless.

They can't go after humans. The only time the government can threaten our sanctuary is when we've harmed humans.

But they can go after the next best thing.

Me.

A shudder rips down my spine and through my arms, a familiar reaction to the memories floating through my head, of the pain my body remembers.

My hands jerk on the wheel as a hulking form dashes across the streak of my high beams.

"Shit!"

I slam on the brakes, my car fishtailing on the dark road. Tires squeal against pavement. The stench of burning rubber floods my nose. My head whips forward, slamming into the steering wheel as the car spins to a stop.

"Fuck..."

I groan, squeezing my eyes shut against the throbbing pain in my skull. Stars burst behind my eyelids. The coppery taste of blood fills my mouth.

I must have bitten my tongue.

Shit. They usually wait until I'm home to corner me. Fucking with me on the road so blatantly is new.

My hands shake as I peer out the cracked windshield. The road ahead is empty. No sign of whatever ran in front of my car.

There's about zero percent chance it's anyone other than a Blackwood wolf.

I swallow hard, my heart pounding against my ribs. I need to get home.

At least that way, even if I'm beaten to within an inch of my life, Mom and Dad will call a healer when it gets too bad. They've done it before.

Probably because they don't want to lose their live-in maid, but I like to think it's because they care at least a little bit.

I need to get out of here. Now. Before they come back.

I reach for the keys, still dangling from the ignition. Pain lances through my right wrist and I hiss, cradling it to my chest. Must have sprained it in the crash. Fuck.

Gritting my teeth, I use my left hand to turn the key. The engine sputters and dies. I try again. And again. Each time, I'm met with that same pathetic whine.

"No no no, come on..." Desperation bleeds into my voice. "Please..."

I glance in the rearview mirror, half expecting glowing eyes to materialize out of the darkness. My breathing turns ragged, panic squeezing my lungs.

I'm a sitting duck out here. A rabbit cowering in the open, just waiting for the wolves' jaws to close around me.

The snap of a branch breaking has me flinching, a whimper escaping my throat. I turn slowly, dread churning in my gut as I peer out the driver's side window.

That's when I see them. Two pinpricks of eerie yellow light, hovering at the edge of the trees.

Watching me.

Das könnte Ihnen auch gefallen

Married To Darkness

"Do you wish to know what will happen if I drink from your thighs?" Salviana drew in a sharp breath before she whispered, "I might die?" "No, It is I who will die if I don't," he met her eyes with a lustful hungry gaze, "Spread your legs for me, Fiery-wife" And that she did... ~~~{───────────────── ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~}── Fiery is married to the demon everybody feared would destroy them someday. He is the greenest reddest flag but now she only sees white. A canvas to paint their love however she deemed righteous. ~~~{───────────────── ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~}── The Dark Prince, the third prince, is no stranger to the fear and hatred surrounding him. Cold, distant, and possessing a gaze as dark as midnight, he is known throughout the kingdom as the demon prince. But the truth hidden beneath his pale skin is far more dangerous—he is a vampire, living among a royal family that barely tolerates his existence. Salviana, a divine lady of myth, never asked to be married to such a man. Forced into the union, she is thrust into a life where every corner holds a secret and every glance feels like a challenge. Though her husband’s cold touch sends shivers down her spine, Salviana finds herself drawn into his world of shadows and intrigue, struggling to understand the depths of his darkness. With royal enemies watching their every move and Salviana’s own hidden powers slowly awakening, the bond between her and Alaric grows more complicated. Can she survive the dangerous world of court politics, where even her husband may not be fully trusted? Or will the weight of the secrets they keep tear them apart before they can discover the truth about each other? Caught between fear and desire, Salviana can’t help but wonder: Will she uncover the man behind the darkness, or will the shadows consume them both? Married to Darkness is a seductive, tension-filled journey into the unknown, where love and power clash in a dangerous dance that could lead to either salvation or destruction. The cover is from Pinterest. Not Mine. ~~~{───────────────── ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~}── Stalk me on social media! Discord: I_nanafirdausi Instagram: I_nanafirdausi Facebook: Nana firdausii X: https://x.com/NanaFirdausii Or Buy me a coffee @ https://buymeacoffee.com/nanafirdausi

I_Nana_Firdausi · Fantasy
4.6
335 Chs

Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by his Brother

[TRIGGER WARNING: Mature Content + Dark Themes] EXCERPT: “Axel, no. We… can’t do this!” I jolted back when he pulled up my skirt. As if to retaliate, he grabbed my wrist and yanked my body to his. “We can do whatever I say we can do, María José.” “I’m your brother’s reject. Do you even hear yourself right now? He didn’t want me, Axel. What does that make me to you?” “I don’t care about Álvaro’s foolishness. It's his loss for losing a woman like you.” “Okay, I must confess. I'm not worried about him either. It's Rosa… you're getting engaged to my sister in a month!” “Let me remind you, María José—I don’t give a fuck about that, either.” No matter how hard I jerked, he wasn’t letting me go. And part of me—so, so foolishly—didn’t want him to. ______ Having spent her life avoiding the spotlight, María Jośe never imagined she’d be the one to bring shame to her esteemed De la Vega family. With beauty as captivating as a field of lilies, she is the prized daughter of an ambitious father who cares more for his reputation than his children’s happiness. When Álvaro Montenegro, the arrogant heir to the Alpha title, sets his sights on her as his chosen Luna, María Jośe is desperate for a way out. But everything changes when the Moon Goddess answers her prayer in the most unexpected way: María Jośe discovers she is an Omega—wolfless and the lowest rank in the pack. Once held in awe, she is now shunned; a source of shame to her father and a target for ridicule in the pack. As her life turns upside down , María Jośe's hatred for the pack grows. The only solace she finds is in her growing, forbidden bond with Axel Montenegro—Álvaro’s older brother, who has turned his back on the pack to live as Beta. These two developed a love-hate friendship born from their shared disdain for the pack’s cruelty, which slowly evolves into a passionate, secret romance. But when Álvaro discovers Axel’s interest in María Jośe, jealousy ignites within him and he suddenly wants María Jośe as his own. Love, vengeance, and betrayal all brewed into a whirlwind of drama, desires, and deadly comebacks. Will María Jośe rise from the ashes of her former life, or will she be consumed by the power struggles of the pack she despises? Will she give in to the oldest brother who is scared of commitment or the younger one who fiercely seeks redemption?

HeeSha_TA · Fantasy
Zu wenig Bewertungen
107 Chs

Was it you that night?

On the eve of their wedding, Yan Changsheng brought back a girl and publicly called off the marriage. Only then did Shen Qinghe realize that Yan Changsheng was the crazy male lead from a book, and the girl was the irresistible female protagonist. As for her, she was just early cannon fodder fated to die, and her elder sister was the malevolent female supporting character whom everyone wanted to beat up. Tsk, the plot is just freaking ridiculous! After awakening, Shen Qinghe busied herself with cultivation, protecting her elder sister. Yet, unknowingly seizing the female protagonist's luck, she attracted several crazy male leads, each of them forcibly taking what they wanted from her. She thought Dongfang Wuya was relatively normal, but who knew he was crazier, actually seizing the position of Heavenly Emperor and then forcibly marrying her to become the Heavenly Empress! ** As the high and mighty belle of the cultivation world, Dongfang Wuya had countless admirers and fans. Yet he was devoted to cultivation, treating love as if it were dirt. Initially thinking Shen Qinghe was deeply in love with him, he sternly advised her, "Focus on your cultivation, do not get distracted by romantic entanglements!" Later, irked by her dedication to cultivation, he pressed her into his arms and kissed her, seductively coaxing with a playful smile, "Be my Daoist companion, and I'll aid you in cultivation, hmm?" [Asura Field, Cremation Ground, Male Rivalry, Su Wen]

Ten million · Fantasy
4.8
319 Chs

The Young master's fake bride and her lucky system

[Sweet, satisfying, pampering, lots of face slapping.] Zhang Caishen's era had come to an end and he could never rise again, or so they said. But why did he seem to be getting richer and more powerful even if he was now crippled and abandoned by his betrothed? Why was he suddenly so unnaturally lucky? The answer was simple; his new wife!! Lin Alix was not lucky when it came to her family. She was the older, less loved and less talented one in comparison to her younger sister who stole everything from her. But fate intervened and she got lucky when it came to a husband, not only was he wealthy but he loved to spoil her. Suggested by her infinite luck gaming system, Alix married her sister's unwanted crippled husband to be and stepped on the path of a winner in life. She swept up music awards, gained international recognition and got her revenge on her cruel family while becoming Beijing's most envious wife. "Are you crazy, you willingly married a crippled man?" her friends asked. "Yes, but have you seen how much he pampers me?" she asked in turn. "She will cheat on him, he is a cripple and he can't perform his husbandly duties." others gossiped. Alix looked at the so called crippled man who climbed into her bed night after night and laughed. Sorry, he was more than capable. "Honey, I am here to perform my husbandly duties." he would always say coquettishly when he flipped her over. This book is participating in the WSA and the author will appreciate all your support. Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction, nothing should be compared to the real world no matter how similar. You can also check out my other works here on Web novel.

1cutecat · Fantasy
4.8
626 Chs
Inhaltsverzeichnis