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.

at the vampire's face, fingernails gouging. He snarls, jerking back slightly but not releasing me. The pressure on

scar is where your power leaks out. It's like a drug to creatures who can sense it. It isn't

my head, still scrabbling to dislodge the vampire's chokehold. Whose brilliant idea was it to put a magic neon 'bite me' sign on

growls in frustration. Just protect it, Ava! Don't let

my neck again, lips brushing my hammering pulse. Lightheadedness swamps me and I giggle, strangely giddy, before I realize it's the lack of oxygen

tongue flicking out to taste. Bile rises in my throat.

up, escaping in a strangled laugh. "Must be the

kitten has claws." Cool fingers ghost across my collarbone, tracing the neck of my

whizzes by my ear, 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,

flies to his neck, wrenching out the object lodged there. It's a knife, the blade slick with his blood. He snarls, fangs bared, as

I stumble, legs shaky, as he shoves me behind him. He faces off against the vampire, fists raised, body coiled with

and run," Teddy grits out, not taking his

reaching Lisa. But Teddy is already moving, launching himself

to Lisa's side. She's still unconscious, her breathing shallow. I shake her shoulders, calling her name, but she doesn't respond.

whip my head around. My heart seizes in my chest. Teddy lies crumpled on the ground, his head twisted at an unnatural angle. His wolf eyes stare sightlessly at the sky, his muzzle slack. The vampire stands over

his chin. "Did