Tangled

134 Ava: The Party (V)

134 Ava: The Party (V)

He seems nice, Selene says.

Yeah, he does. When we part so I can return to Lisa’s side, he doesn’t cling or say anything, just waves me off

and wanders back into the crowd.

Feeling buoyed by my success at dancing with a stranger and managing a conversation with someone. in the pack, I hunt Lisa down. The dance with Teddy has cemented something inside of me; no matter how handsome another man is, he doesn’t bring about the flutters that a single word from Lucas can stir in my belly.

I need girl advice tonight.

Trying to find Lisa in the throng of shifters is impossible. She’s nowhere to be found. My skin prickles with the sensation of being watched, assessed. Whispers hiss through the air, just quiet enough that I can’t make out the words. But I can imagine well enough what they’re saying.

Mia and Chloe are holding court with a group of male shifters. Mia’s dark hair tumbles over her shoulder as

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134 Ava: The Party (V)

she laughs, leaning into the broad–shouldered man beside her. Chloe’s green eyes flick to mine, a smirk curling her lips. I quickly look away.

I don’t know what their goal was in bringing me here,

but I don’t need to know.

They’re not on my side. That’s enough to know I want nothing to do with them.

Someone jostles me from behind and I stumble, barely keeping my balance. A red plastic cup is shoved into my hand, sloshing sticky–sweet punch over the side.

“Oops, sorry!” a male voice calls, but when I turn to look, he’s already disappeared back into the crowd.

I stare down at the cup in my hand, the sickly artificial scent of fruit and alcohol wafting up to my nose. My stomach churns. I don’t want to be here anymore, suffocating under the weight of shifter superiority and teenage hormones. I just want to find Lisa and go

home.

Clutching the cup, I weave my way through the mass of bodies, heading for the refuge of the kitchen. It’s quieter there, only a few people milling about. I set the cup down on the counter with a shaky hand and pull

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134 Ava: The Party (V)

out my phone.

Where are you? I can’t

watching the three dots that indicate Lisa is typing. They disappear. Reappear. Disappear

sry went 2 get air,

snort. Air. Right. More like she snuck

in a shadowy

can

stare at her text, a sinking feeling in my

uses text spea‘

out soon

where r

[AVA: Kitchen.]

draws my gaze, the sticky–sweet scent of

beside it.

don’t understand why someone would just shove

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The Party (V)

wanted one?

aren’t my scene. I feel lost here.

in my mind, her presence a comforting

myself than to her. She’s right. Something is off. Between Lisa’s sudden use of text speak and that odd wrong feeling that’s

my neck prickle, a shiver running down my spine despite the warmth of

room.

doorway. Teddy. His warm brown eyes meet mine, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he weaves his way through the small clusters of people.

asks, his brow furrowing as he takes in my expression.

automatically, the lie tasting bitter on my tongue. “Just

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The Party (V)

his gaze dropping to the cup next to me. Something flashes in his eyes, too quick for me to catch, but it

me take that,” he says, his voice light but his expression serious. “It’s probably better if you don’t

blink at him, confusion warring with a sudden surge

for a moment but he

trust me on this one, okay? There’s some stuff going around that you don’t

he mean? What kind of stuff? And why would someone give it

me?

hating that I’m suspicious of the one person at

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Ava: The Party (V)

“The alcohol level in the punch is a bit much for a newbie. You don’t

way your nose wrinkles every time you look at a

I say slowly, my voice sounding small even to my own ears.

fraction. “No problem. You sure you’re okay? You need me to walk

feeling uneasy. “Thanks, but I’m good. My friend’s

to say something more, but then he nods. “Alright. Well, take care of yourself, okay? And if you need anything, just let me know. I know

here.”

New?

a pack to get new blood, but it feels awkward to pry. He hadn’t mentioned it, even when he talked about

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