Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 365 Ava: Exhausted

"Hold still." Vanessa's voice carries that stern edge I've cto associate with her healer mode as she slides a

needle into my arm. "Your veins are collapsing. That's not good."

"I've been drinking water." The defense sounds weak even to my ears. Especially since | almost collapsed this

morning, after nine days of nonstop purification. Marcus draggedstraight to the hospital, beratingthe

entire tfor not taking care of myself.

To be fair, | didn't feel any worse than usual today. Not until the first round of taint cleansing.

"Not enough." She connects the IV line with practiced efficiency. "Your body's burning through resources faster

than you're replacing them. These purifications are taking more out of you than you realize."

The fluid starts its slow drip into my veins. The bedroom feels too quiet, too still. Lucas and | are never here

during the day anymore; we're both too busy. Even Selene and Grimoire have gone silent, probably sensing my

exhaustion.

"I had three full bottles today."

"And you purified four sites yesterday over five miles." Vanessa checks my pulse, her fingers cool against my

wrist. "I don't have the data to back this up, but I'm going to go on record and say it's like running four

marathons back-to-back without refueling. Your electrolytes are dangerously low."

"But"

"No buts." She pulls up a chair beside the bed. "Judging from your symptoms, the potassium levels in your blood

are concerning. And when's the last tyou ate a full meal outside of dinner?"

I have to think about that one. "Breakfast?"

"A piece of toast and a bit of jam isn't breakfast." Vanessa's voice softens. "The magic you're channeling requires

fuel. Real fuel. And these purifications... they're not just cleaning the taint, right? You said they're drawing on

your own magic to transform it."

Grimacing, | settle further back into my pillows. I've been trying to take care of myself, but | never really factored

in things like electrolytes. That explains the bone-deep exhaustion. "How long do | need to stay here?"

"Until this bag is empty." She pats the bag and a tiny glass jar hanging beside it. "And you're going to eat the

soup Kellan's bringing. All of it. Elverly swears by it. Says it's her mother's recipe."

"I will. | promise."

"You're lucky Lucas isn't here to see you like this." Vanessa adjusts the drip rate. "He'd have kittens if he knew

how far you pushed yourself today."

"That's why we're not telling him."

"Oh, we absolutely are telling him." She raises an eyebrow at my strangled protest. "Doctor-patient

confidentiality doesn't apply when it comes to the Alpha."

"I'm not—"

"You are." She cutsoff. "Your body is showing signs of severe stress. The purifications are affecting your

blood chemistry in ways we don't fully understand. Maybe it's just that you need to eat and drink a little more,

but | can't guarantee that's the only issue. | don't have enough experience with magic."

Grimoire makes a disgruntled noise in my head. It's my fault. | should have monitored you better. Your body isn't

used to the amount of magic you're handling daily.

He's been self-flagellating in my head since | almost keeled over.

"What does that mean?"

"It means we need to be more careful. Monitor you more closely." Vanessa pulls out a small notebook. "I want

you tracking everything. Water intake, food, how many purifications you perform, how you feel afterward."

"That seems excessive."

"What seems excessive is finding you barely conscious after pushing yourself to the brink." She scribbles

something in her notes. "You're not just dealing with magic here, Ava. This is your life we're talking about."

The truth in her words stings. "I can't just stop. The taint is spreading."

"No one's asking you to stop. We're asking you to pace yourself." She looks up from her notes. "What good are

you to anyone if you work yourself into a collapse?"

| hate that she's right. The room spins slightly as | shift position, proving her point. "How long until I can get back

out there?"

"At least twenty-four hours." She holds up a hand before | can protest. "Non-negotiable. Your body needs tto

recover."

The fluid slowly drips into my arm, each drop a reminder of my limitations. Outside, | hear the bustle of pack life

continuing without me. Voices carry through the window, wolves going about their duties while I'm stuck here in

bed.

"I know it's frustrating," Vanessa says, her voice gentler now. "But you're not helping anyone by running yourself

into the ground."

Blowing out a long sigh, | can only say, "I know." It isn't that | disagree with her, or think she's wrong. | know

she's right.

But with the taint spreading every day, being the only one able to deal with it—how am | supposed to pace

myself, when I'm already behind?

It feels like an impossible situation.

The mattress dips as Selene leaps onto the bed, her weight settling across my legs. The extra warmth is a

welcome; even with the wood stove stoked high and the relatively comfortable temperature, I'm fighting chills.

| couldn't even sense anything was wrong. One moment you were fine, the next— She presses her cold nose

against my hand. You just dropped.

"I'm fine now." My fingers sink into her thick ruff, seeking comfort as much as giving it.

You're not fine.

Grimoire sighs. She pulled too much magic for that last purification. But it wouldn't have been an issue if she

wasn't already worn down.

"Both of you, please." The last thing | need is them tag-teamingwith guilt. "I get it. I'll take care of myself."

Vanessa makes another note in her book, and something about her movement catches my attention. There's a

subtle difference in how she holds herself, a softness to her usual precise motions. My eyes narrow as | study her

more carefully.

Her scrubs hang differently on her frame. The way she keeps one hand near her middle when she moves. The

slight flush in her cheeks that I'd attributed to the warmth of the room.

"Ava?" Vanessa pauses mid-note. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." | shake my head, still watching her. "You just seem... different."

Her pen stills against the paper. "Different how?"

"I'm not sure." But | am sure. Something's changed about her energy, like a second pulse beneath her own. "You

move differently."

Vanessa's eyes widen slightly before she schools her expression. "Focus on yourself right now. You're the patient

here."

She's right, Selene says, but her head tilts as she studies Vanessa. Though now that you mention it...

Grimoire even perks up. Oh. Well, that's interesting.

"What is it, Grimoire?"

"Nothing that concerns you right now." She tucks her notebook away with deliberate movements. "How's the

dizziness?"

But now | can't unsee it—the subtle changes in her demeanor, the way her scent has shifted ever so slightly,

even though I'm not as sensitive to smell as others. Something about her remindsof the pregnant she-

wolves in the pack, that sgentle glow about them.

Oh.

Oh.

My mouth drops open, but Vanessa points her pen atin warning. "Don't. Whatever you're thinking, don't say

it. Focus on getting better."

| close my mouth obediently.

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