Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 29 Ava: Omega? (II)

[WARNING: Sensitive content.]

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There's a luxury I've indulged in since I left my pack.

The news.

I wasn't allowed to watch it at home because of its 'human bias'.

One thing I learned in the news is that sexual assault from shifters happens at least twice as often as it does from humans, and that's only what's reported in the human community. It's estimated that assault within the shifter community is be much higher.

Theories run rampant, but there's one that feels authentic to me. It talks about the bestial temperament of wolf shifters, and how their innate need to breed like wild animals gets the best of them. This is why we often have fights between males over women, even with a fated connection in place.

It's something I don't think about too much, because it was just a part of my life when I lived in a shifter pack. Now that I live among humans, I can see how different the relationship is between humans, compared to how it is in our packs. I see why they are kept so separate.

And as someone in this kind of situation again, I'm inclined to think that humans are a hell of a lot smarter than shifters.

I stare over my kidnapper's shoulder, looking through the window. We're no longer in the city. Towering trees flank both sides of the winding road.

I swallow hard, my throat constricting around the lump of panic that threatens to choke me. Selene's silence has me anxious, worried that I'll be alone when I have to fight for my freedom.

gruff voices blending together in a low rumble as they discuss... something. I tune out their

Fucking shifters.

my fists to still the trembling of my hands. I can't afford

a sharp turn, and I'm forced even farther into the embrace of the one holding me. I let go of my fists to dig my nails into the worn leather of the seat I'm lying on, my legs bent awkwardly against the other door. They're going to be on edge when they bring me out of the car, so I'll have to play nicely

they drag me to—it'll be even harder to escape then. My mind races, desperate for a

even want my fated mate, much less these

rubs and grunts against me. "Fuck,

just groan beneath the weight of his body, constricting my lungs. He must think I'm making a sexy response, though, because his breathing quickens and he rubs harder

grip his hips in my hands and try to push him off, but it only seems to excite him further. "Please," I murmur, staring up at him with what I hope

backfires as he yanks my legs apart and wraps them around his waist. "She's

but apparently this excites the

Oh, my God.

Is he—

Yes.

He is.

arm is unmistakable as his moans fill

me," he growls. "It

over. I don't think I can wait until we get there, anyway." His hand's at his

something, anything, that would get through their horny skulls. "If you do it out here—my scent will be

mate is. You're right. We'd have to kill anyone who smells you." He slides his

say, frantic now.