Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 47 Ava: The Apartment

The apartment Clayton talked about is in the middle of the city, in a high-rise that towers above every other building in the area. It reeks of money.

I follow Clayton through the opulent lobby, cringing as my sneakers squeak against the polished marble floor. I don't belong here, in this sleek, luxury-through-minimalism space.

Two large men in crisp suits stand by the entrance, their eyes following our every move.

"Guards?" I murmur to Clayton, trying to keep my voice casual despite the unease prickling up my spine.

He nods once, ushering me towards the elevators. "For the human residents, yes. We aim to avoid any incidents between humans and shifters."

My eyebrows lift at that, and I risk a sidelong glance at him as we step into the empty elevator car. "Incidents happen often around here?"

Clayton's expression darkens momentarily as he hits the button for the top floor. "Not often," he allows. "But no pack is immune. There are always hotheads who lack control, rogues who seek chaos. We have to take precautions."

I absorb that silently, my mind whirling. It was not infrequent to hear my father complaining about young idiots who wandered into the human territory and harmed or killed humans. The Blackwood Pack didn't treat humans well. It's different here.

I've seen the differences firsthand, but I still didn't expect humans and shifters to live in the same building.

The top floor is exclusive. You can see it at first glance; there are only two doors, despite the long hallway. There should be plenty of room for other apartments, yet there aren't any.

to the door on the left, his hand a warm weight against the small of my back. I tense at his touch, my skin tingling

sweet home," he says, unlocking the

along the back of the apartment. It has an open floor plan, bringing in all the natural light, and even with the furniture that Clayton has

a slow circle, taking in the high ceilings, the modern furnishings, the

I murmur

watching me closely. There's a glint of something like pride in his eyes as he

him making such personal arrangements for me. "It's very nice," I manage. "But really, it's too much. I'm happy to find a place

suddenly overwhelming. "We've been over this. For now, you need

life. "I don't need your protection," I argue, lifting my chin to meet his piercing

rogue shifters?" Clayton cuts me off, his tone laced with a sharp edge. "Before you went into a heat so potent that even an alpha as disciplined as myself was

the memory, heat unfurling low in my belly. Clayton holds my stare, his eyes glittering with a

think you have everything under control," he continues in a low rumble. "But the truth is, you're a rare thing in our world, Ava. An omega with

open my mouth to protest, but

Play along for now, at least until

teeth, I force myself to nod. "Fine. I'll stay here for now." The words feel

hall, so I won't be far. There are clothes in the bedroom; I had

shopping?" I hadn't even thought about a change of clothes. I'm wearing some that Clayton had brought over, but I didn't think he'd bought an entire

that's all the explanation that's needed. "The fridge is also stocked, but I'm