Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 104 Ava: Training (I)

The best way to deal with all the confusion involving feelings?

Exercise.

Jericho watches in approval as I push myself past my limits, determined to grow stronger. New bruises appear and disappear each day as my supernatural healing kicks in. Lisa, on the other hand, is covered with them, in various stages of healing.

I'm determined to ignore everything about Lucas and Clayton for as long as I can. It's easier to just… not deal with it all.

Healthy? Probably not.

But hell, I'm just going to settle for making it through each day for now.

An odd, itchy feeling doesn't stop all day. Lisa smacks at my hands every time I begin scratching at my neck and shoulders. My belly looks as if it's been clawed by a raccoon, though the marks fade within half an hour each time.

"You have to stop that, Ave. You're driving yourself insane. The more you scratch, the more you'll itch. Just take some Benadryl."

"Fast healing means a fast metabolism. Benadryl won't even touch it, and I don't know wolf dosing. I'd have to go to a healer to figure it out." I've explained this to Lisa before, but her exasperation over my scratching overcomes minor details like that.

It doesn't bother me. I repeat myself as often as I need to. I just worry that other wolves in the pack might bother her.

So far, Lisa hasn't gone anywhere without me. Between the guards always nearby and Kellan's presence every morning before training and every afternoon after, we haven't done anything outside of our apartment. Even our food gets delivered.

Lisa's company is amazing, but we're both going a little stir-crazy.

That might be what's wrong with me.

of nowhere, and I almost jump

you doing?

I exchange a startled glance before picking up the pace. My muscles scream in protest as I push myself to sprint faster around

experienced a shift, the concept of the full moon's power remains foreign to me. Yet, an inexplicable

the forest, running almost as fast as wolves, I've been desperate to feel

hint of it since that

gaze burns into my back as I round the bend, my breath coming in ragged gasps. Lisa falls into step beside me, her face flushed with exertion. "What do you think he means by that?" she pants, her words punctuated

head, unable to form a coherent response. My breath is too short and my brain too confused by how I feel about

body is

shifters, the moon is nothing more than an enhancement. An aphrodisiac for some, and a hair trigger on anger for the others. They're a little more volatile, a little more inclined to drink, a little late to sleep. But otherwise, it doesn't really do

feel like bathing in the silver moonlight of

just bizarre. That's the problem. Where the fuck

voice booms across the track once more. "Faster! You

channeling my frustration into each pounding step. The relentless itching beneath my skin keeps me from hitting a decent

out before I do, barely making it the full five miles. She's so sore that I spend an hour every night massaging her from head to toe.

late are not

fact that I yearn for the moon so fiercely worries me, even as

in front of me, like a fucking unwanted ghost in

entire track." His voice cracks like a whip, making me flinch.

her face flushed from exertion. She still hasn't

turns his steely gaze on her. "Life isn't fair. Get

treats my friend. I set my hands on my hips, ready to argue, but

I begin my lunges, feeling the burn in my thighs almost immediately. Each step is a challenge, my muscles screaming in protest.