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.

Selene murmurs, a hint of

her voice.

Lask, taking another sip of water to hide my

The

flush.

says, but I can practically hear the smirk in her tone. Just be careful, Ava. Remember who you

are.

I can ask, Lisa grabs my arm again, her eyes

see some people from the gym

throng, my cup clutched tightly in my hand. The music washes over me again, the beat pulsing through my veins. Lisa weaves

with ease, her steps

confident.

those thoughts aside. Tonight, I’m just Ava. Not the Alpha’s mate, not a pawn in some political

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

Ava: The Party

shoulders.

of the girls yells, waving at Lisa. “Come over here! We’ve

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

the male shifters I’ve seen watching me

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

with her elbow.

pipes up, with a wink in my direction. “Can’t believe he’s finally

has been salivating over him since before he came of

older ones,” the male jokes, and

17:51 –

The Party (II)

as yet another familiar face from the gym- someone else whose name I can’t

my water, I slip around until my back is to a wall, watching everyone interact with each other.

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

almost no

back to the dark–haired girl from before, her eyes still fixed on me. There’s something unsettling about the intensity of her stare, the way her lips curve into

her voice a soothing presence in my mind. She’s just

she’d been amused by the girl’s

isn’t anything nefarious.