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.

I can’t find you anywhere.]

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

went 2 get

Right. More like she snuck off

out in a shadowy corner somewhere.

I can blame her.

text, a sinking feeling in my

never uses

out soon though. Not

kk where r

[AVA: Kitchen.]

set on the counter draws my gaze, the sticky–sweet scent of punch mingling

beside it.

still don’t understand why someone

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Ava. The Party

I wanted one? Did someone

aren’t my scene.

right, Selene whispers in my mind, her presence

sudden use of

shiver

room.

warm brown eyes meet mine, a smile tugging at the corners of

in my

my tongue. “Just tired, I think. It’s been

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Ava: The Party

me. Something flashes in his eyes, too quick for me to catch, but it makes my stomach twist. He reaches out, plucking the cup

says, his voice light but his expression

warring with a sudden surge of unease.

just turns and dumps the contents of the cup into the sink. The sickly sweet smell is stronger for a moment but he turns on the water and

he turns back to me, his expression is carefully neutral. “Just trust me on this one, okay? There’s

racing. What does he mean? What kind of stuff? And why would someone give it to

me?

I’m suspicious of the one person at this party who’s treated me well.

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The Party

who cares about his pack,” he says, with a faint smile. “The alcohol level in the punch is a bit much for a newbie. You don’t drink much,

by the way your nose wrinkles

even to

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

my head, still feeling uneasy. “Thanks, but

he nods. “Alright. Well, take care of yourself, okay? And if you need anything, just let me know. I know how it feels to

here.”

New?

blood, but it feels awkward to pry. He hadn’t mentioned it, even when he talked about his job and aspirations. It

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