Tangled

131 Ava: The Party (II)

Breathe, Selene reminds me, her voice cutting through the chaos. You’re okay. Just take it one step at a time.

I inhale deeply, letting the air fill my lungs before exhaling slowly.

Lisa tugs on my arm again, pointing towards the kitchen. “Let’s get something to drink,” she suggests, already moving in that direction.

I follow her through the crowd, keeping my eyes fixed on the back of her head. The kitchen is quieter, the music muffled by the walls and the hum of

conversation. A few shifters are gathered around the island, pouring drinks and chatting amongst themselves.

Lisa grabs two plastic cups from the stack on the counter, handing one to me before turning to the array of bottles lined up beside the sink. “What do you want?” she asks, her gaze flicking over the labels.

“Just water,” I remind her, echoing Kellan’s earlier instructions.

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131 Ava: The Party (II)

She rolls her eyes but reaches for a pitcher of water anyway, filling both of our cups. “You’re no fun,” she teases, taking a sip from her own.

I shrug, lifting my cup to my lips. The water is cold and crisp, soothing my parched throat. I hadn’t realized how thirsty I was until now.

As I drink, I let my gaze wander around the kitchen, taking in the faces of the shifters gathered there. A few of them look vaguely familiar, but most are strangers.

her gaze m

One girl catches my eye, her gaze meeting mine over the rim of her cup. She’s tall and slender, with long dark hair that falls in waves down her back. There’s something about the way she holds herself, the tilt of her chin and the set of her shoulders, that speaks of confidence and power.

She smiles at me, a slow, lazy curl of her lips that sends a shiver down my spine. I look away quickly, my cheeks heating.

hint of

her voice.

taking another sip of water to

Ava: The

flush.

the smirk in her tone. Just be careful,

are.

sure what she means. But before I can ask, Lisa grabs my arm again, her eyes bright with excitement.

see

my hand. The music washes over me again,

crowd with ease, her steps sure

confident.

smiles of recognition, I push those thoughts aside. Tonight, I’m just Ava. Not the Alpha’s mate, not a pawn in some political game. Just a

the first time I’ve seen such friendly looks on their faces, and it helps ease some of the tension in my

Ava: The

shoulders.

at Lisa. “Come over here! We’ve been waiting for you!”

behind her as she squeals. “Hey, Mia! We barely

told you he’d let you.” This is one of the male shifters I’ve seen watching me at the gym.

slings an arm over Mia’s shoulders. He’s reasonably attractive when he isn’t scowling from the sidelines. “We get crazy, but not too crazy.

with her elbow. “Sounds

best,” Mia pipes up, with a wink in my direction. “Can’t

has been salivating over him since before he

and several of the shifters laugh with him.

17:51 –

Ava: The Party (II)

yet another familiar face from the gym- someone else whose name I can’t remember–strikes up

my water, I slip around until my back is to a

notice me or care that I’m there, and I’m grateful

almost no

There’s something unsettling about the intensity

her voice a soothing presence in my

few moments earlier she’d been amused

isn’t anything