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.

sound of pounding feet reaches my ears just as Selene's warning registers. I whirl around to see Kellan bursting forth from the trees, his chest barely rising

sharp and wary, dart around the

concern as

stranger's cryptic words still echo in my mind. "I thought I saw someone out here. But

more perplexed by the second. "That's odd. I

could Kellan not detect the stranger's scent?

me back. The stranger's parting comment about needing

pack. Things about Blackwood don't make sense, as

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 whenever I

is always better,

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

information, it's probably best to keep this encounter to

imagined it," I say instead, shaking

eyes. It's a little insulting to know 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 changed

needs to be protected. Not someone who can protect the

be nice if that

It will.

is a small

shoulder, Kellan glances around again. "Let's get you

can feel her gaze on me, knowing and expectant, but I keep my own eyes

if you stay inside. We'll be adding more guards. At least

hoping to

"Are you sure that's a good idea?

feeling

comfortable here in Blackwood lands. Mom might know about him,

her," I say, injecting as much conviction into

studies me for a long moment