133 Ava: The Party (IV)
“Ava,” an unfamiliar voice coos, and I cringe at its
overly saccharine tone.
Turning, I see Chloe sauntering toward me, hips swaying in a way that catches the eye of every male she passes. For a moment, I’m startled by her revealing clothes–a tight, low–cut top that leaves little to the imagination and a skirt so short it barely covers anything at all.
Like Lisa, her auburn hair flows in messy waves over her shoulders, but her eyes are slathered in fancy eyeliner and shadows that belong on one of those make–up artists from online videos. Fancy stuff. A little too much for me, but I can appreciate the talent
behind it.
She reaches me and greets me with an enthusiastic kiss on the cheek, her lips lingering just a bit too long for comfort. “You look amazing,” she gushes, her eyes raking over my body in a way that makes me want to squirm. “So much better than your training clothes.”
I force a smile, trying to ignore the way her
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133 Ava: The Party (IV)
compliments feel insincere, like she’s just saying what she thinks I want to hear. “Thanks, Chloe.”
Her hand reaches out, fingers grazing gently over my breast as she leans in close. “They suit you,” she purrs, and I fight the urge to recoil from her touch. “Don’t they?”
The question’s tossed to someone behind her, but I can’t tell who. There are too many wolves around watching us.
A whistle from one of the nearby male shifters makes my cheeks burn, and I step back, putting some distance between Chloe and myself. She just laughs, the sound grating on my nerves. “Oh, you’re adorable,” she coos, like I’m some sort of skittish animal she finds
amusing.
Before I can respond, she’s pressing a cup of pink punch into my hand, not even bothering to ask if I want it. I stare down at the liquid suddenly feeling out of my depth. Is this what life in the Westwood pack will be like? Overly familiar touches, suggestive comments, and a complete lack of personal boundaries?
133 Ava: The Party (IV))
It doesn’t feel right.
weird, not–right feeling is back, my stomach churning and my
everyone is in everyone else’s business, touching and flirting and acting like it’s all just normal. Now I see why Selene was amused by that girl
I’m used to. I’m not even sure this is what’s normal here. If I’m reading Chloe right–and I think I am, paranoia be damned–she’s
purpose.
like I
Why?
a smirk playing at the corners of her lips.
think of Lucas, of the way he looks at me sometimes like I’m the only person in the world. He’s never made
onfe van cherished
The Party (IV)
navigate these shark–infested waters on my own. I can’t rely on him to protect me
can’t be his weakness.
Correct, Selene whispers.
the drink,” I say, my voice
falters, just for a moment, before she plasters it back on. “Of course,” she says, her
escaped into the kitchen to find peace, only
I wrong? Is this normal?
at
shortly. There
ianlous of
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Ava: The Party (IV)
of our training group’s skills. I can’t shift. I’m not even
many secrets. Secrets I can’t even share with the man who’s supposed to be
you, Selene murmurs. Just mingle. There will always be jealous wolves, but there
The entire party isn’t just about Mia and Chloe. There
not outgoing enough to introduce myself to random shifters,
and Bren
Hmm.
Missing.
probably means they’re doing something
behind closed doors.
dancing, Selene
Or dancing. I cast an inexperienced eye
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Ava: The Party (IV)
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