Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 49 Ava: Selene's Secret Vice

Selene's presence helped me sleep like the dead. Waking in the morning in a room outside of the hospital is nicer than I want to admit to Clayton, after trying to refuse this apartment.

Stretching languidly, I take a moment to bask in the luxury of the king-sized bed, reveling in the silky sheets caressing my skin. A contented sigh escapes my lips as I roll onto my side, only to find myself face-to-face with Selene's piercing blue gaze.

"Morning," I murmur, reaching out to scratch behind her ears.

Morning, pup. Her tail thumps against the mattress in greeting. Sleep well?

"Like a rock." I glance around the lavish bedroom, my eyes lingering on the plush armchairs positioned near the floor-to-ceiling windows. "It's going to take some getting used to, living in a place like this."

You deserve nice things, Ava. Selene nuzzles my hand. Although, I must admit, I miss the simplicity of your old apartment.

Is it possible to feel nostalgia after only a week away? Because I do.

"Me too. We won't be able to go back for a little while, right?"

Selene's ears flatten against her head. Not until the alpha sends you home.

Pushing aside the melancholy, I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and stretch again, relishing the freedom of movement. No sore back or hips, and no tense neck after sleeping on near-flat pillows. "So, what's on the agenda for today?"

Selene hops off the bed and trots toward the door. Well, you don't have a job to go to anymore, so I suppose you could be a couch potato for once.

I can't help but laugh at the mental image. "A couch potato? Really?"

with a wolfish grin. There's a new shifter romance show that just started. We could

area. "A shifter romance show? Somehow, I doubt it'll be an accurate representation of our

making herself comfortable. You'd be surprised. From what I've heard,

"Steamy, huh? I'm not

gives me a pointed look. After everything we've been through together, a little on-screen romance

the couch, tucking my feet beneath me. "Alright, alright. Let's see what all the fuss

few taps on the remote, the large flatscreen flickers to life, and the opening credits of "Fated Mates"

let's see what kind of steamy shifter romance

to the screen. This show is going to make you wish you had a mate of

want me.

scoffs at my words. A fated mate doesn't count when they're too stupid to appreciate what's right in front

lips. Trust Selene to put things so bluntly. "You're

the apartment, causing us both to turn our heads toward the sound. Frowning, I rise

open, I'm surprised to find Ivy standing on the other side,

not sure how to greet her, so I just say, "Hello,"

sweeps over me, assessing my appearance with a critical eye, unimpressed by my pajamas. An impatient expression crosses her features as

you going to invite me in, or shall we

I hurry to step aside,

brushes past me, Selene lets out a snort from her spot on the couch, drawing Ivy's attention. Surprise flickers across her face when the husky doesn't back down from

did you get that dog?"

at Selene, who meets my gaze with a knowing look. "She's just a stray who showed up one day. Ran away from

she's agreeing with my explanation. Ivy,

studies Selene, who simply stares back at her, unfazed. "Well, I suppose that explains her lack