Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 96

Chapter 96 Ava: Life in Westwood (I)

Lucas still calls me every night, but Lisa had helped encourage me to text him yesterday, asking for space, at least until he returns to Westwood.

I'm sure he gets hourly reports from all my guards, but at least I don't have to worry about playing nice when I'm starting to feel resentful and frustrated, despite knowing I should be grateful for being saved.

I'm grateful to him for a lot. Having guards around should be a small price for all of this. It's just hard.

"Welcome home!" Lisa exclaims as she flings open the door to her new apartment.

When Lisa said that Lucas had settled her into an apartment, I'd expected something… I don't know.

Normal?

This is far from normal.

The luxurious living room has been decorated in some sort of eclectic, artistic mix of boho wall decor and minimalist furniture, leaving bright, wide open spaces with bright splashes of color and texture on the walls. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the space with natural light, framed by curtains I'm afraid to even touch. How can curtains look so expensive?

A sleek kitchen gleams in the corner, all stainless steel appliances and marble countertops, with white cabinets that are going to be a terrible experience to keep clean. It's like the entire apartment was made with maid service in mind.

"Wow," I breathe, running my fingers along the back of the luxurious leather couch. "Lucas really went all out, didn't he?"

But they don't hear me, because—well, they're still arguing.

Kellan. "We don't need a guard dog watching our every move in here. What, you think

gruff response, focusing instead on the sprawling cityscape beyond the glass. Skyscrapers pierce the sky, glinting in the afternoon sun. Cars crawl along

It's busy.

away from Cedarwood. From the Novel Grind and its cozy charm. From the little apartment I'd made

From Selene.

in my head, felt her presence curled around my mind like a contented cat. I keep reaching for her, hoping to brush against the familiar warmth of her consciousness, but there's

wounds had healed at such a rate that I'd truly expected to hear Selene in my head any day now, assuming it was a side effect of our bond. I'd hoped it meant Selene was getting closer, that she'd found a way to

worse? The thought makes my stomach twist, bile rising in my throat. I can't lose

forehead against the cool glass, squeezing my eyes shut as if I can will her into existence through sheer desperation. Please, Selene, I

no answer, just the muted sounds of the city

every aspect of our lives!" Lisa's voice cracks like a whip, jolting me out of my spiraling thoughts. "Ava's

our top priority.

shuddering. Thinking of Mom and Dad makes me want to vomit, but it's the memories of Todd's attack that flash

odious little shit again, but his nightmares

for the torment

work at my jaw, fighting against the

girl anymore. I survived. I fought back. And I won't let anyone make

begin training tomorrow. Self-defense and more. I'm looking forward to it in a way that makes me almost want to shy away from the

a lot of things, I

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