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.

need

stagger out on trembling legs. The keys jangle in my grip

Almost there. Almost—

wet

between white knuckles. My heart

away, lips curled back in a snarl. Saliva drips from dagger-like fangs. His russet fur tells me

Todd.

to torment

just watches as I grab the door

a reprieve;

a moment to lament the damage to my car. I have no idea how much

Damn it.

"Ava. Come here."

walk toward my parents,

the wolf outside. He doesn't give a shit. He knows exactly what they do to me; as long as it isn't in his eyesight, where he has to deal with it, he won't say a

him, her disapproving stare leveled over my shoulder. I can't remember the last time we had eye contact

enter the room, focusing my gaze on his muddy

with words. All he wants to see is my submission. Words are a waste of time coming from the lowest ranking member of

a word as I cradle my

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

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

a little harder, and then skips another. The

wolves from all over

talks all their pack politics—but in reality, the Lunar Gala is more of a matchmaking

Jessa hasn't been to one; historically, our entire pack avoids it. The official story is that there's bad blood between a few alphas and ours,

risk a quick glance upward. He's looking over my head, not even straight at me, like I'm beneath

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

No more explanations. Just a beta throwing out his orders and expecting

I'm buzzing with excitement at the idea of leaving

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