Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 165 Ava: Margot's Secrets

A soft knock on the door pulls me out of my hazy morning thoughts as I finish packing my small suitcase. Vanessa must be early to escort me back to the airport.

That's not Vanessa. Selene's hackles rise, a low growl rumbling in her throat. Something's wrong.

I freeze, my hand hovering over the zipper. "What is it?"

Not sure. Her nose twitches. But it doesn't smell right.

Uneasy, I debate ignoring the knock, pretending I'm not here. It's a stupid thought. Any wolf can scent me in here.

I crack open the door, surprised to find Margot Mitchell standing there, her face pinched and pale.

"Ava, thank the Moon." She pushes into the room without invitation, her eyes darting around as if searching for hidden threats. "We need to talk."

"Margot, what—" My words come out in a shout over the audacity of her intrusion.

"The vampire. He's here." She grips my shoulders, her fingers digging in. "You have to keep him safe. You have to be loyal. You can't break the code."

"What secret? What vampire? What are you talking about?" Yanking out of her grip, I take a few steps back. "Why are you here?"

"You have to keep the secret," she hisses, as loud footsteps come thudding, like people are running. "Don't sell your loyalty, defect. Only Renard's promise keeps us safe. Without it, we're all doomed."

"What promi—"

"If you tell them, we all die, Ava. You don't want our lives on your hands, do you?"

My bodyguards burst into the room, their faces hard and unreadable. In a dizzying burst of movement and noise, they seize Margot by the arms, yanking her away from me. She yelps, thrashing against their iron grip as they drag her out.

I gape after them, my mind reeling. What the hell just happened?

"Ava, I'm so sorry about that." Kellan's voice snaps me back to the present. He stands in the doorway, his brow furrowed with concern. "Margot is one of the housekeepers for the lodge. She was here for maid duties. We didn't expect her to rush up to your room like this. If you hadn't shouted…" He pauses.

"Well. She must have fallen through the cracks during the transition. We'll take care of it."

fine." The words feel hollow, even to my own ears. Margot's frantic warnings echo in my head, refusing to be dismissed. You can't spill the secret. You have to

unsure how to process any of this. Kellan watches me,

a vampire around here?" The question slips out before

widen, his mouth falling open slightly. "A vampire? How

remembering that it just happened a few days ago in

who meets my gaze with

over-reliance on their senses. The assumption is that they can

Kellan feels that

she suggests, her voice a soft whisper in my

I've changed my mind. I won't be going

"Are you sure? I thought you were eager to get back to Lucas and the search for

sudden change of heart. "I just think I should stay a bit longer. See if I can find out anything else that might help us find her. Lucas has things in hand at Westwood. Maybe I'll see

to argue, his mouth opening and closing a few times. But then he

that he's not pushing the issue. "And thanks for handling... that." I wave a hand toward the

if debating whether to say more, then shakes his head. "I'll be downstairs if you

that, he turns and walks out, leaving me alone with Selene and my racing thoughts. I sink down onto

isn't going to like this, Selene remarks, hopping up

about vampires and Renard. There's definitely a link." As if Sister Miriam wasn't proof

into my side, offering her silent support. We'll figure

fur absently, my mind still spinning

secret alliance between vampires and

a little

be

over her words and try to break them down, the more questions I have. Whatever the secret is, am I supposed to hide it from Lucas and the others? Or

said was

feels like being handed a key, but being informed only

supposed to do

shiver runs through me as I recall the terror in her eyes, the desperate edge to her voice. Whatever it is, it's big enough to rattle a

phone and send Lucas a quick text, letting him know about my change of plans.

do you

Something's come up. I can't explain