Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 67 Ava: Their Plans (I)

Every day that passes is a slight uptick in my stress level. Mom and Dad are never home, busy with something. I haven't seen Phoenix since the day we spoke in the kitchen. And Jessa has been less than receptive over talking about future plans with me.

The fragile alliance feels like it's crackling away beneath my fingers, like old paper that disintegrates with the faintest touch.

So when Phoenix comes by without Jessa around, dismissing my guards, my heart jumps into my throat. It's hard to swallow the water I'd just sipped out of one of mom's coffee mugs.

"Hi."

"Hey." Phoenix looks me over, rubbing his left brow in a mannerism that's new to me. "They're planning the mating ceremony for next week. Mom's in charge."

"Oh."

What else is there to say? We all knew it was coming.

It's odd how peace flows through me at the announcement. It's like my body understands that I'm either going to escape or die trying, because there's no way in hell I'll ever let Alpha Renard near me like that.

"Have they sent you to the healer yet?"

I shake my head. "I haven't heard a word about any of this."

Phoenix sits at the kitchen table, so I sit across from him, setting my glass of water aside. The tightness in my throat makes it too hard to swallow. "How much do you know about the pack situation, Ava?"

My lips quirk up into a mocking smile. "How often do you think people inform me about anything, Phoenix?"

otherwise unmoved by them. It's just a clear indicator that he's only here for his own interests. Despite everything, he's not here to save his sister. He's not here to care about

to

hurts, even around the walls I've built to keep

the Westwood territory, under the guise of attending college. His plan was for her to mate with the beta or another high-ranking shifter in the pack, but Westwood sent her back home, closing the

this before or after Lucas suddenly decided to come

somehow

give me a moment to process as he continues, "Westwood's been accusing us of attacking their wolves at the border, but all their investigation has

between him and Dad

our side, attacking our scouts. The Council's kept their paws off for now as there is no clear evidence of a war brewing between each pack." His brown eyes, cold like Dad's, bore into mine. "That's what's kept peace here so far. This has been going on for a year or more, and we

to indicate that I understand, even as I'm confused

increased since the

My entire body stiffens.

have reports that you were with him in the garden, and he

and he was flirting with me. Once he found out my name, he

sniffing around, trying to get information on you. Once we heard that, we put every pack in the Northwestern Territories on alert for you. We

been out searching. The ones in the Novel Grind watching me must have been trying to see if I was masking my

alpha told us to

my eyes at the blatant gaslighting, but I just keep listening, wanting to know

your interaction with the Westwood alpha after he kicked Jessa out of the territory, things changed, and Alpha Renard developed a keen interest in bringing you back. I was in charge of it all. I even went to find your friend at your little job, and

Go, Lisa!

enemies, Ava. He thinks they know about our plans. Are

The moment he realized who I was, he turned into a

he relaxes. "Alpha Renard assumed you'd escaped into Westwood territory. When even Jessa couldn't find any evidence of you there, we branched out, asking other clans to help find you. The plan was to use you to approach