Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 129 Ava: Getting Ready

"Holy shit." Staring at my reflection in Lisa's full-length mirror, the transformation is amazing.

Lisa's jeans hug my curves like they were made for me, accentuating the newfound definition of my legs. I twist, admiring how my butt looks. Damn. Jericho's torture sessions are paying off.

Lisa grins at me from her perch on the bed, surrounded by a sea of discarded tops. "See? I told you we're basically the same size now."

I run my hands over my hips, marveling at the fit. "I've always been too big for your clothes. This is wild." Ever since I took over the meals and grocery shopping, the one luxury I'd ever been able to afford was eating a little extra. It translated to a smidgen of extra padding and a little tummy flub. Running from the pack burned off the rest of it.

"Well, get used to it, babe. We're going to be trading clothes all the time now." Lisa tosses a silky black top at me. "Try this one with it."

I catch the top and slip it over my head, shimmying a little to get it past my chest. The fabric drapes just right, skimming my body in all the perfect places. I stare at myself, hardly recognizing the girl in the mirror.

"Damn, Ava. You look hot," Lisa says, coming to stand beside me. She bumps her hip against mine. "Lucas will go wild if he sees you in this. Maybe we should dress you in a potato sack when we leave so he doesn't come flying back to bring you home."

My cheeks warm at the mention of Lucas. "I'm not dressing up for him," I mutter, fiddling with the hem of the top.

Lisa rolls her eyes. "Yes, yes, I know. It isn't like he's here. But you're going to end up sending him a picture, aren't you? Just—wait until later. So he doesn't crash the party."

I glance down at the black top and jeans. Sending a selfie hadn't even crossed my mind, but maybe she has a point. "Black looks good on everyone. It's a classic."

"Uh-huh. Keep telling yourself that." Lisa winks at me before turning to rifle through her jewelry box. "Here, these will complete the look."

She hands me a pair of silver hoop earrings and a delicate pendant necklace. I put them on, letting the pendant nestle just above my cleavage. The final touch to my transformation.

I hardly recognize myself as I take in the full effect. The girl staring back at me looks confident, sexy, ready to take on the world. A far cry from the timid, uncertain Ava I've been lately.

"Selene, what do you think?" I do a little twirl. "How do I look?"

she's lounging on Lisa's rug. Like a fierce she-wolf, she says,

onto the bed. "Let's see

"Kellan isn't even on my radar. He's way too testosterone-filled for me. Oh! I have just the thing.

want

Of course she doesn't.

a rainbow of colors and sequins. This is nice, the

forget about the tangle of complications waiting for me outside this room. The mysterious text, Sister Miriam's cryptic words, my missing family, my newfound powers, the unresolved tension with Lucas and Clayton. In here, it's just me

think this is the one." Lisa emerges from the closet, holding

can pull off, and I whistle. "Kellan's the one we're going to have

he has

his

It clings to her like a

Lisa Randall is on the prowl," I tease as she comes to join me in front

reflections. Me in my sleek black ensemble, her in her va-va-voom red dress. We look good. Powerful. Ready to take on

maybe a little

meet mine in the mirror, and we both

a simple crop top instead. Me, I have to change from head to toe.

a soft thump. On Lisa's orders, I switch it out with the black shirt. Pulling it over my head, I adjust the hem as it settles just above my belly button. The fabric is soft and stretchy. Comfortable. But

with a burgundy off-the-shoulder blouse. She looks effortlessly chic, her dark hair falling in soft waves, courtesy of a curling

makeup, fiddling with some eyeliner as my eyes twitch incessantly. A quick braid for my hair, and

lip gloss, her lips shimmering in

satisfied with our reflections that I realize I have a problem. My gaze drops to my feet, bare against the plush carpet. Every pair of shoes

toes. "I don't think I have any shoes that will

my feet, then at her own. She's already slipped on a pair of white sneakers, with adorable rose

so tiny she can buy children's shoes. "Hey, it's not my fault

go barefoot,