Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 123 Ava: New Shifters

Lisa and I share a look before following Amara further into the gym. I can feel the eyes of the other shifters tracking our every move. Unease has my heart beating in rapid rhythm, like a frantic chicken flapping its wings. All the excitement I'd felt at meeting new people is now buried beneath the worries dashing through my mind.

Do they hate me?

Is their disapproval because I'm a Blackwood wolf?

Do they know I can't shift?

Have there been complaints about me?

What have they been saying?

But, of course, I don't have the answers, so I follow behind with my mouth shut.

It will be fine, Selene assures me, but she's very unconcerned about the thoughts of humans or shifters. In fact, I'm not sure she cares about anyone other than me. She isn't even fond of our fated mate.

Selene snorts. Fated doesn't mean inevitable.

Once we reach the mats, Amara turns to face us, her stance relaxed but ready. It's hard not to focus on the lean muscles defined in her arms. I'd thought I was making improvement with my training, but compared to her? I look like a newborn baby, soft and squishy.

"Let's start with some basic defensive moves and see where you're at."

Amara launches into an explanation of a simple block and counter, demonstrating the moves with fluid grace. I focus on her words, trying to commit the steps to memory.

Then it's our turn to try. Lisa goes first, her face set in concentration as she attempts to mirror Amara's movements. It's a little clumsy, but she executes the block successfully.

"Good," Amara praises. "Remember to keep your weight centered and your arm firm."

praise. Jericho snorts, but by some miracle

breath to center myself. Amara nods at me to

move through the motions, muscle memory from Jericho's training kicking in. The block is solid, my

says. "You've clearly been practicing. Next time, commit to the movement. You're hesitant, and hesitation will get

watches me in continued silence. Maybe I'm not as far behind as I feared? Maybe I can hold my own here

back as I push myself harder, striving to perfect each technique. I have to repeat them multiple times, and despite her initial reticence, Amara proves herself

for any shortcomings. She

healing, and how I woke

calls for a break, my muscles are burning and my lungs heaving. But beneath the

and it's exciting. Even Lisa, who's usually dead after a long day of training, bounces with

Glancing up, I find several of the male shifters watching me with interest. It makes me want to squirm, their gazes a little too intense for

instead as she chatters excitedly about everything we've learned. Her enthusiasm

* * *

was a

leaves us to Amara's tutelage, and over the next five days, we're brutalized and beaten to the mat. Lisa isn't smiling anymore, and I no longer feel

distance, I would be certain she's trying to bully me out

nothing, technically,

a subtle energy among the shifters, in their eyes

are jealous, Selene

you watching your trashy

swishing despite our distance. It is very entertaining. Humans

I drag my head back

of the other shifters, a younger male with a cocky swagger, is my opponent this morning. He's one of the many who watch me

I'm lacking.

makes sense, knowing they think of me as their

worry about what they think. They are all beneath you. Selene's natural arrogance is probably because of her Lycan soul; I don't know how she cares so little about how other people