Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 97 Ava: Life in Westwood (II)

"Ava, Lisa, this is Jericho. He's one of our most experienced enforcers and will be overseeing your training."

Kellan's introduction hangs in the air as I take in the man before me. Jericho's weathered face is a tapestry of scars, each one a story etched into his skin. His eyes, a piercing blue, seem to see right through me, assessing and calculating in equal measure, his scarred lip curling in disdain.

I force myself to stand tall, to meet his stare head-on.

"These are the whelps I'm meant to train? They look like they'd snap in a stiff breeze."

Kellan's jaw tightens. "Jericho, mind your tongue. Ava and Lisa are under the Alpha's protection. You will treat them with respect."

Jericho snorts, a harsh sound in the tense air between us.

The shifter's lip curls, exposing yellowed teeth. "Respect is earned, not given. They live or die by their own strength, not mine. If they can't handle it, that's not my problem."

"They're under our Alpha's protection," Kellan grits out again, his patience clearly fraying. "You just need to train them. Help them learn to defend themselves."

The shifter snorts, a harsh, derisive sound that sets my teeth on edge. "Defend themselves? Look at them, barely more than pups. Soft. Weak." He spits the words like they're poison on his tongue. "What's the point?

within a

forward, his posture radiating menace. "Let me make this clear," he says, his voice low and dangerous. "Ava and Lisa's wellbeing is of the utmost

like he might argue, his scarred face twisting with disdain. But then he shrugs, a casual roll of his shoulders that does nothing

a sharp gesture. "Enough. Leave the girls to

heel and stalks away, leaving Lisa and I alone with our

approval in his tone. "Good. Means

hand finding mine and squeezing. I glance at her, seeing my own apprehension reflected in her eyes. Whatever training Jericho has in store for us, it's not going to

nothing about my life has been pleasant lately. I squeeze Lisa's hand

Jericho's gaze head-on, my chin lifting in silent challenge. "We're ready," I tell him, my voice steady despite the

raking over every inch of our bodies like he's looking for weak spots to exploit.

"You're the ones the Alpha thinks are worth protecting. Can't say I see it myself, but orders are orders." He

chin, refusing to be cowed. "I've done what I had to do to survive," I say, my voice steady despite the fear thrumming through

willing to do whatever it takes to come out on top." His gaze flicks

at her sides. But she meets his stare head-on, her voice only wavering slightly as she says,

they don't mean shit out there. In the real world, it's kill or be

for the realities of this new world I've found myself in. But I refuse to let him see my fear, to let him think he's won before

quite feel. "Show us how to survive. We're not afraid to learn,

unreadable. Then he nods, a single, sharp jerk of his chin. "Alright then, girl. Let's see what you're made of." He takes a step back, his posture shifting into