Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 169 Ava: A Strange Meeting

Confusion flickers across the stranger's face for a moment before understanding dawns. "Ah, I see. If you saw someone just now, it was likely a manifestation of your own fears. A distraction, meant to throw off anyone who might be following me."

I stare at him, my mind struggling to comprehend his words. A manifestation of my fears? How is that even possible?

Selene pads forward, her nose twitching as she sniffs at the stranger's feet. To my shock, her hackles remain flat, her tail giving a tentative wag. She's never reacted this way to a potential threat before.

He is not a danger to us, but he is not an ally, she tells me.

"What are you?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

The stranger tilts his head, studying me with those unsettling eyes. "I could ask the same of you. Why is a witch running with the Blackwood Pack?"

The word "witch" hits me like a punch to the gut, stealing the breath from my lungs.

The only ones to call me that are vampires.

Careful, Ava. Selene's warning echoes through my mind, even as she continues to sniff at the stranger's shoes.

The stranger glances at Selene, distaste crossing his face, but he allows her to sniff. Then he glances over my shoulder. "I'm afraid we'll have to continue this conversation another time. Once you have permission from my mother, that is."

"Your mother?" I echo, confusion and frustration warring within me. "What are you talking about?"

But the stranger is already backing away, melting into the shadows as if they were never there at all. I lunge forward, desperate for answers, but my hands close on empty air.

I hesitate, torn between the desire to chase after the mysterious stranger and the knowledge that I can't just go off running.

I've been kidnapped enough times that I really should have learned my lesson.

Ava, stop. Selene's voice is firm, halting me in my tracks. We need to get back to the others. Kellan is coming.

ears just as Selene's warning registers. I whirl around to see Kellan bursting forth from the trees, his chest barely rising and falling despite the clear effort he's

wary, dart around the area,

you okay?" His voice is tight with concern as he approaches

still echo in my mind. "I thought I saw

he takes another deep inhale, his expression growing more perplexed by the second.

How could Kellan not detect the stranger's scent? Selene had clearly caught their smell, even

my mouth, ready to explain further, but something holds me back. The stranger's parting

Things about Blackwood don't make sense, as though there's a cloud of bizarre conspiracy hanging over

If I'd known how my life would turn out, I would have spent more time lingering during late-night discussions, instead of tuning people out and hiding

always

of information I'm somehow supposed to piece together, I glance at Kellan, who's looking around again,

it's probably best to keep

shaking

that he thinks being mistaken is more likely than thinking there's something going on that can pull the wool over his eyes, but that's something that can only be

one who needs to be protected. Not someone who can

nice if that changes

It will.

is a

around again. "Let's get you

Selene padding silently beside me. I can feel her gaze on me, knowing and expectant, but I keep my own

best if you stay inside. We'll be

to see Vanessa. I want to visit my mother

followed by a frown. "Are you sure that's a good

venomous words still stinging. But there's a nagging feeling in my gut,

lands. Mom might know about

her," I say, injecting as much conviction into my voice as I can

a long moment before sighing. "I'll let Lucas