Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 138 Ava: A Shocking Finale (II)

"Such a naughty kitten," the vampire mutters, scowling in a way that erases the beauty of his face.

The vampire's grip tightens, crushing my throat as I thrash against him. My lungs scream for air. I claw at his hands, nails scraping uselessly against unyielding flesh. Panic floods my mind, blotting out rational thought.

Your training, Ava! Remember your training! Selene's voice slices through my rising hysteria.

Right. Training. Jericho's lessons flash through my oxygen-starved brain. I stop flailing and focus, letting my body go limp, conserving strength. The vampire smirks, misreading it as submission. His cold breath washes over my face as he leans in, nostrils flaring.

He's...sniffing me?

Revulsion churns my stomach as his nose skims along my jaw, down to the crook of my neck. He lingers there, inhaling deeply, a pleased rumble vibrating his chest.

The scar, Ava! Don't let him near it! Selene's warning ricochets through my head. He can't bite you there!

Fragmented memories resurface—Selene cautioning me about my scar during my heat, insisting I keep Clayton away from it. I hadn't understood then. I'm not sure I do now. But her urgency propels me into action.

not releasing me. The pressure on my windpipe eases a fraction and I suck in a desperate

your power leaks out. It's like a drug to creatures who can sense it. It isn't quite an aphrodisiac, but it can be, in the right circumstances, Selene explains

to dislodge the vampire's chokehold. Whose brilliant idea was it to put a magic neon 'bite me'

protect it, Ava! Don't let him break the skin there, no

chuckles darkly, his grip loosening as he nuzzles into my neck again, lips brushing my hammering pulse. Lightheadedness swamps me and I giggle, strangely giddy, before I

against my skin, tongue flicking out to taste. Bile rises in my throat. "What is that delectable aroma, little

laugh. "Must be the pancakes I

is a mixture of irritation and amusement. "So the kitten has claws." Cool fingers ghost across my collarbone, tracing the neck of my

embedding itself in the vampire's neck with a sickening squelch. Blood spurts from the wound, splattering us both in a grotesque crimson spray. The coppery tang assaults my nose, but there's an underlying sweetness that makes my stomach heave. It's cloying, like rotting fruit, and I gag on the scent, fighting the urge to vomit as I'm dropped

vampire staggers back, his eyes wide with shock and fury. His hand flies to his neck, wrenching out the object lodged there. It's a knife, the blade slick with his blood. He snarls, fangs

my arm and hauling me to my feet. I stumble, legs shaky, as

run," Teddy grits out, not taking his eyes off the seething

Teddy is already moving, launching himself at the vampire with a guttural roar,

her name, but she doesn't respond. Panic claws at my chest. I need to get her out

his head twisted at an

chin. "Did you really think you could