Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 Ava: Invitation

The eyes stalk me from the shadows, unblinking. Unwavering.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

My hands tremble as I turn the key again. The engine sputters, coughs. Please. Please start. I can't die here. Not like this.

Another turn. A whine. A sputter.

The wolf steps out from the tree line, massive and menacing. Its fur blends with the night, a specter of death and torment.

I can't make out any distinguishing features in the darkness. No way to know which of my abusers has come for me tonight.

The engine roars to life. Thank God.

I slam my foot on the accelerator, tires screeching against pavement as I peel off down the road. My heart hammers against my ribs, blood rushing in my ears.

In the rearview mirror, I can see the wolf chasing me. Keeping pace with my car as I navigate the winding roads.

He howls, a promise of pain.

It's all a familiar, sick game. I hate it. I never know when it's coming; when someone's bored enough to begin.

It never ends well though. Not for me.

The streets of my neighborhood come into view. Mom and Dad won't save me, even if I'm being slaughtered in the front yard—but if I can make it inside, that's a different story.

No one disrespects the beta's home.

I whip into an awful parallel parking job, the car jerking to a stop. My hands shake as I fumble for my keys, dropping them twice before I manage to grab them.

just need to

door, I stagger out on trembling legs. The

Almost there. Almost—

smell wet fur. And

around, keys clenched between white knuckles.

a snarl. Saliva drips from dagger-like fangs. His russet fur tells me everything I

Todd.

loves to torment me and

door from behind my back, turn, and

reprieve; I'll take

to my car. I have no idea how much it will cost to repair my cracked windshield; it'll eat

Damn it.

"Ava. Come here."

walk toward my parents, worried butterflies floating around in my

says nothing about the wolf outside. He doesn't give a shit. He knows exactly what they do to me;

seated in his favorite armchair, his expression stoic as always. Mom stands behind him, her disapproving stare leveled over my shoulder. I can't remember the last

the room, focusing my

he wants to see is my submission. Words

my wrist; they're blind to

the Lunar Gala this year. I trust you have enough money from your… job to be properly dressed for the

and cold breezes straight through my limbs, shoving past all that anxiety to settle straight into

thuds a little harder, and then skips another. The Lunar Gala. I've missed out on it for

wolves from

gala is a way to unwind after the Northwestern Council meets and talks all their pack politics—but in reality, the Lunar Gala is more of

strange for the Blackwood Pack to attend this year. Even Jessa hasn't been to one; historically, our entire pack avoids it. The official story is that there's

the room, and I risk a quick glance upward. He's looking

as though some offensive odor came through, but of course there's nothing. Just me. "Phoenix and Jessa will be there,

explanations. Just a beta throwing out his orders and expecting everything to fall

at the

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