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.

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

drug to creatures who can sense it. It isn't quite an aphrodisiac, but it can be,

head, still scrabbling to dislodge the vampire's chokehold. Whose brilliant

Don't let him break the skin there, no

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

skin, tongue flicking out to taste. Bile rises

escaping in a strangled laugh. "Must be the pancakes

amusement. "So the kitten has claws." Cool fingers ghost across my collarbone,

the wound, splattering us both in a grotesque crimson spray. The coppery tang assaults my nose, but

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 he tosses it

I stumble, legs shaky, as he shoves me behind him. He

Teddy grits out, not taking his

reaching Lisa. But Teddy is already moving, launching himself at the vampire with a guttural roar, shifting

shake her shoulders, calling her name, but she doesn't respond. Panic claws at

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.

wiping blood from his chin. "Did you really think you