Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 156 Ava: In Blackwood Again

Landing in White Peak leaves me with a feeling of dread, but this time Selene sits between my knees, resting her head against my thigh during descent.

It's enough to take the edge off the panic brewing in the back of my mind. The memories of Phoenix dragging me home.

Lucas had done something—I'm not sure what—that has all the flight attendants treating us with kid gloves and allowing Selene in the cabin despite her lack of paperwork showing that she's vaccinated.

Explaining vaccinations to Selene had been fun, though. She was never held long enough at Animal Control to get any sort of real vet treatment.

Apparently Lycans don't get such menial illnesses and diseases as domestic dogs get. But once we went down that road, we had a small argument over whether her current body is Lycan or dog, and now she isn't talking to me out of the sheer level of offense at my audacity for questioning it.

But she's still comforting me, knowing how I feel about returning here.

Coming 'home'.

The last time, Phoenix was by my side. This time, it's Kellan, who's been vibrating with dark energy since he picked me up from my apartment. It's still better than having my brother there, but it doesn't help in keeping my anxiety low.

His distress over Lisa's absence seems to outweigh my own. Not that it's a contest, especially when he's just found out that she's his fated mate.

But it does make me feel guilty. Like I'm the worst friend in the world.

Kellan's spending all time when he isn't sleeping to fix his pack and find his mate. Me? I slept with Lucas. Not only that, I enjoyed every second of it, not once thinking about how I could have spent that time trying to find her instead.

Fuck.

I'm the worst.

Horny, but not

silence to comment on my

when I'm stuck witnessing it

True.

the plane descends, making me wince and rub at my temples. Selene lifts her head from my thigh, her ice-blue

were not meant to fly in these metal traps, she

her grumpiness. It's not so bad once

She settles her

with a jolt, and I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. Despite Selene's comforting presence, my nerves are still frayed at the edges, the prospect of being back

stormy. I can't even begin to imagine the turmoil he must be feeling, the

much Lucas

with even when he spent time in

Damn.

shrivels a

were at a different place then, Selene murmurs. You shouldn't feel guilty for how you felt in

accept

It usually is.

beside me. You hate Lucas. I'm not

and she looks at me, tongue lolling out of

But I won't get between

our way through the bustling airport, Kellan's hand resting lightly on the small of my back as he guides me

to us, having been in a different section of the plane, and aside from a quick greeting, she's silent, her

pine. My stomach does a little flip as I spot Clayton and Vester waiting for us, their postures relaxed but their

I'll have to ask her

eyes crinkling at the corners