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?

be dead within a week

low and dangerous. "Ava and Lisa's wellbeing is of the utmost importance to Alpha Lucas.

then he shrugs, a casual roll of his shoulders that does nothing to dispel the tension

but Jericho cuts him off with a

last warning look, Kellan turns on his heel and stalks away, leaving Lisa and I alone with our new mentor. Jericho eyes us appraisingly, his gaze lingering on my

like you've seen some action already," he grunts, something like approval in his tone. "Good. Means you might just

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,

Lisa's hand back, drawing strength from her presence. We'll get

my chin lifting in silent challenge. "We're ready," I tell him, my voice steady despite the fear coiling in my gut. "Teach

circles us slowly, his gaze raking over every inch of our bodies like he's looking for weak spots to exploit. I feel exposed, vulnerable

the ones the Alpha thinks are worth protecting. Can't say I see it myself, but orders are orders." He stops in front of me, his eyes boring

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

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

she says, "I may not be a fighter, but I'm not weak. I'll

smirk. "Pretty words, but they don't mean shit out there. In the real world, it's kill or be killed. And right now, I wouldn't bet on either of you lasting more than a minute in

hard, my mouth gone dry. He's right, of course. For all my bravado, I'm woefully unprepared for the realities of this new world I've found myself in. But I refuse to let him see my fear,

with a conviction I don't quite feel. "Show us how to survive.

made of." He takes a step back, his posture shifting