Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 160 Ava: Eyes Wide Open

It smells like him, Selene grumbles, her wet nose twitching as she sniffs around the plush rug in the center of Lucas' bedroom. Everywhere.

I glance up from where I'm unpacking my suitcase, one eyebrow arched. "Well, it's his room. What did you expect?"

She huffs, her tail swishing in annoyance. I expected not to be assaulted by the scent of alpha male posturing every time I breathe. Her mental words are sour, but without the bite they used to have when she spoke of Lucas.

A laugh escapes me despite the heaviness still lingering in my chest from the earlier confrontation with Margot. "Posturing? Really? It's just his scent."

Yes, really. She flops down on the rug, her chin resting on her paws. It's like he's marking his territory. Letting everyone know this is his space.

"Is it really posturing when he just sleeps in here?"

Yes.

I roll my eyes, turning back to my suitcase. She's reaching for reasons to complain, but knowing that her grumbling doesn't have the fierce hatred of before helps a lot. "He's the alpha. Isn't that kind of his job?"

There's a difference between being an alpha and being obnoxious about it.

Her complaints continue as I move about the room, hanging up clothes and arranging my toiletries in the en-suite bathroom.

It's a beautiful space, all dark wood and rich fabrics, with a massive king-sized bed dominating the center. It's all masculine without a single feminine touch, which somehow pleases me.

The thought of sleeping here, surrounded by Lucas' scent, makes me smile—even if my wolf hates it.

But Selene's complaints nag at me, pulling me out of my reverie. I pause, a shirt dangling from my fingers, and turn to face her.

"Okay, what's your deal with Lucas? I thought you were over your issues with him now that we're together."

seems to deflate her entire body. It's not that simple,

me." I drop the shirt on the bed and move to sit beside her, my fingers sinking into her thick fur. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're just being

still grouchy, but there's less heat in her

what? Lucas has proven himself time and time again. He's been there for me, for us,

good man, Selene

demeanor and cryptic words of some sage, but at times like this, she's just a sassy friend in my

"But…?"

against the

Ava. I'll explain it

mental voice is so defeated that I don't argue, just pet her head and ears. "Promise that it's not the same kind of 'another day'

if you hadn't gotten yourself kidnapped again in the first

to get her out of her little funk, I add, "Besides, I didn't get kidnapped by the vampire this time." My heart sinks as I think that over, my heart sinking. Maybe if I had been, Lisa wouldn't be alone and we could be on our way

for someone who hasn't finished training

"Hush."

the window, I glance over at the pack lands spread out before me. The

like stepping back in time by a few

through the streets, their heads down and shoulders hunched. They move with a sense of urgency, as if they're afraid to linger too long in any one place. It's a stark contrast to the men

display of the gender dynamics that have always been present in the Blackwood pack, but which I've

I'd even seen the difference when I attended school in White Peak, or worked there. But I always felt, deep down, that the difference was because wolf shifters

Now?

experiencing the relative equality and freedom of

This is not because we're shifters; it's

in my mind, her concern

eyes still fixed on the scene below. A female I recognize hurries across the street, her arms laden with bags. She has a few young pups,

to stop short. He says something, his posture aggressive, and the female shrinks back. Even from this distance, I

up their confrontation, that I realize my shoulders are tense and drawn up,