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?"

he's only here for his own interests. Despite everything, he's not here to save his sister. He's not here to

wants to keep his position

walls I've

attending college. His plan was for her to mate with the beta or

shift uncomfortably in my seat. Was this before or after Lucas suddenly decided to come

feel somehow tainted. Was it all

of attacking their wolves at the border, but all their investigation has proven is that they're

Now the conversation between

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 have managed to avoid any large-scale conflicts between either

understand, even as I'm confused he's telling me all

has increased since the Lunar Gala.

My entire body stiffens.

him in the garden, and he left in anger. What did

with me. Once he found out my name, he left." I hide the rest of

reports that Lucas had been sniffing around, trying to get information on you. Once we heard that, we put every pack in the

out searching. The ones in the Novel Grind watching me must have been trying to see if I was masking my scent—either that, or

must have happened in the garden, Ava. When you first disappeared, the alpha told

I want to roll my eyes at the

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

Go, Lisa!

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

anything, Phoenix. I never got a chance. The moment he realized who I was, he

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