Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 279 Ava: Best Friends Together Again

"Lisa?" I call out. "It's safe to come out now. I've banished the big bad wolf."

A muffled curse comes from the direction of my bedroom, followed by the sound of shuffling feet. Lisa appears in the doorway, wrapped in a towel, her wet hair dripping onto the shoulders.

"Is he really gone?" she asks, peering around me suspiciously.

I nod. "He's outside. I told him to give you some space."

Lisa's shoulders relax, and she pads over to the couch, sinking into it with a heavy sigh. "Thank God. I thought he was going to break down the bathroom door. I had to kick him out because he kept peeking in to make sure I was okay. While showering."

"Yes, I'm not surprised." I toss a few things at her to wear. Shirt, pants, underwear. "These aren't fancy, but none of us got to bring our wardrobe."

"I never realized what a luxury clothes are," Lisa agrees, unperturbed by the mismatched and style-less choices, hopping into the bathroom to get dressed. "Do you happen to have a hair dryer?"

"Nope."

"Damn. Oh, well."

Lisa emerges from the bathroom, striking an exaggerated pose in the oversized clothes I've given her. The baggy fabric hangs off her frame, accentuating how thin she's become.

"How do I look?" she asks, her voice playful but strained.

My heart clenches painfully in my chest. "Fabulous as always," I manage, forcing a smile. "You could make a potato sack look good."

there. She flops onto the couch, and I join her,

are you really doing?" I ask softly, turning to

about it right now, if that's okay." She reaches for my hand, squeezing it tightly. "Can we just focus on the fact that I'm

a tidal wave. I grip her hands, my vision blurring with unshed tears. "Lisa, I'm so sorry. I tried to find you,

Lisa interrupts, her voice gentle.

you. We didn't know where you were, and then we did, but we were powerless to save you immediately, and then... then there was the funeral, too." My stomach churns at the memory. "All those shifters who died, I had to...

like I was

mine, her face somber. "Ava, stop. You don't need to explain. I get it, okay? I hate that our... our selfishness brought

apologizing, it's me. I was with you every step of the

my head, unable to form words. We lapse into silence. There's so much I want to say, so many questions

we sit, hands clasped, lost in our

"So, do you have any coffee around

quirk. "I think so, but we'd have to let Kellan in. He's

grin flashes across her face. "Though

"Still, he orders it."

remembers that I

"And olives."

adds

like you aren't too unhappy with how

was just standing there, and then this giant wolf comes out of nowhere growling and ready to tear us apart. All the

finally realize it's Kellan,

around, even though we're the only ones in the room, and lowers her voice to hiss, "He kissed me, Ava. Not a peck. Not a smooch. He just grabbed me like this—" she moves her arms in the air around an imaginary figure,

my chin on my hand. "Was