Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 134 Ava: The Party (V)

He seems nice, Selene says.

Yeah, he does. When we part so I can return to Lisa's side, he doesn't cling or say anything, just waves me off and wanders back into the crowd.

Feeling buoyed by my success at dancing with a stranger and managing a conversation with someone in the pack, I hunt Lisa down. The dance with Teddy has cemented something inside of me; no matter how handsome another man is, he doesn't bring about the flutters that a single word from Lucas can stir in my belly.

I need girl advice tonight.

Trying to find Lisa in the throng of shifters is impossible. She's nowhere to be found. My skin prickles with the sensation of being watched, assessed. Whispers hiss through the air, just quiet enough that I can't make out the words. But I can imagine well enough what they're saying.

Mia and Chloe are holding court with a group of male shifters. Mia's dark hair tumbles over her shoulder as she laughs, leaning into the broad-shouldered man beside her. Chloe's green eyes flick to mine, a smirk curling her lips. I quickly look away.

I don't know what their goal was in bringing me here, but I don't need to know.

They're not on my side. That's enough to know I want nothing to do with them.

Someone jostles me from behind and I stumble, barely keeping my balance. A red plastic cup is shoved into my hand, sloshing sticky-sweet punch over the side.

"Oops, sorry!" a male voice calls, but when I turn to look, he's already disappeared back into the crowd.

I stare down at the cup in my hand, the sickly artificial scent of fruit and alcohol wafting up to my nose. My stomach churns. I don't want to be here anymore, suffocating under the weight of shifter superiority and teenage hormones. I just want to find Lisa and go home.

Clutching the cup, I weave my way through the mass of bodies, heading for the refuge of the kitchen. It's quieter there, only a few people milling about. I set the cup down on the counter with a shaky hand and pull out my phone.

[AVA: Where are you? I can't find you anywhere.]

I hit send and lean back against the counter, watching the three dots that indicate Lisa is typing. They disappear. Reappear. Disappear again.

[LISA: sry went 2 get air, u ok?]

Air. Right. More like she snuck off with Brendan to make out in a

her text, a sinking

never uses text

I might head out soon though. Not really feeling

where r

[AVA: Kitchen.]

draws my gaze, the sticky-sweet scent of punch mingling with the

shove it in my hands. Did they think I wanted one? Did someone

aren't my scene.

in my mind, her presence a comforting warmth.

more to myself than to her. She's right. Something is off. Between Lisa's sudden use of text speak and

the back of my neck prickle, a shiver running down my

mine, a smile tugging at the corners

brow furrowing as he takes in my expression. "You look a little…" He trails

fine," I say automatically, the lie tasting bitter on my tongue. "Just tired,

flashes in his eyes, too quick for me to catch, but it makes my stomach twist. He

take that," he says, his voice light but

confusion warring with a

doesn't answer, just turns and dumps the contents of the cup into the sink. The sickly sweet smell is stronger for a moment, but he turns on the water and rinses it all down the

is carefully neutral. "Just trust me on this one, okay? There's some stuff

mean? What kind of

of the one person at this party who's treated me

wolf who cares about his pack," he says, with a faint smile. "The alcohol level in the punch is a bit much for a newbie. You don't drink much, do you? I can

slowly, my voice sounding small even to my own ears. "Thanks,

shoulders relaxing a fraction. "No problem. You sure you're okay? You need me to

"Thanks, but I'm good. My friend's meeting

looking like he wants to say something more, but then he nods. "Alright. Well, take care of yourself, okay? And if you need anything, just let me know. I know

New?

to pry. He hadn't mentioned it, even when he talked about his job and aspirations. It might be private, and I don't want him to feel the way