Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 153 Ava: A Weight off Her Shoulders

This isn't so bad, right? I ask Selene, buoyed by the gentle smile on Lucas' face.

At first I thought it was a facade to hide his anger, but he doesn't once lash out.

Doesn't berate me.

Doesn't yell.

Just nods. Smiles. Listens.

And accepts it all.

Right, Selene says, but she sounds evasive.

So when Lucas hands me a glass of water and nudges me to sit at the table across from him, I do without hesitation.

"Okay," he finally says, leaning over the table to stare into my eyes. "Lay it on me."

He sounds a little like he's bracing himself. I can't blame him. I am, too.

I take a deep breath. "I'm not a normal shifter."

He nods slowly. "We've established this."

I inhale sharply, searching for the right words. How do I explain something I barely understand myself? The power within me is like the wind; it exists, and occasionally makes itself known, but I can't search for it.

"I have some kind of magical aptitude," I finally say, meeting Lucas' gaze. "But I need training to control it. Without proper guidance, it could be dangerous."

Lucas stares at me, his brow furrowed. The silence stretches between us, heavy with unspoken questions.

"What do you mean by magical aptitude, Ava?" His voice is steady, but I can sense the underlying concern.

The weight of my own ignorance is crushing, and I can only shrug. "I'm not entirely sure, to be honest. All I know is that there's a power inside me, and it's not like anything I've ever known. You saw it, too. The night you saved me."

His eyes narrow as he thinks back. "Your running. We assumed it was some sort of side effect from your dormant wolf."

say, "She wasn't

but Sister Miriam knows. She's going to connect me with a teacher so I can learn to

in his chair, his eyes never

and I lower my eyes, turning the cup in circles. "I need to know more about this power. It's putting the people around me in danger. I need to protect myself. I need to get Lisa

his hand covering mine. The warmth of his touch is comforting, and I peek

Thoughtful. Concerned. Calm.

Ever the rational alpha.

I tell Selene

quiet for a moment. You don't

an

like she's choking over the words anymore, but there's something there that I can't quite put

his fingers tensing for a moment over my

"Yes?"

looking torn. "I need you

"But that's—"

now. Just until Kellan and I can look into this a little more. To keep

my hand from his. "Lucas, I know you

And we're going to do everything in our power to

dangerous, but it's a risk I'm willing to take on if I can get even one step closer to bringing

not alone, Ava. We are all in this with

asking for

takes a

filled this room since you first started talking, and yet he is still trying to see your side. Do not be afraid to speak your mind, Ava. Only communication will

touches my leg, prompting me to

watch my shows on the couch. You two can have this fight anywhere, but if clothes come off, I ask that you

remote in my lap, wet with her saliva, she saunters back to

us.

show on now—to her second favorite, which is running yet another one of

only then that I realize the effects of the food have worn

able to say that to him. I should

the effects

I don't want you to feel as though you can't talk to me," he says hesitantly, distracting me from that line of thought. "I appreciate you opening up to me, and I

he's reciting lines from a book,