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 find you anywhere.]

the three dots that

went 2 get

like she

in a shadowy

I can blame

her text,

uses

out soon though. Not really feeling the party vibe.]

kk where

[AVA: Kitchen.]

gaze, the sticky–sweet scent

beside it.

why someone would

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The Party

my hands. Did they think I wanted one? Did someone think I was just picking

that parties aren’t my scene. I feel lost

my mind, her presence

Lisa’s sudden use of

my neck prickle, a shiver running down my

room.

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

in

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

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Ava: The Party

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

that,” he says, his voice light but his expression serious. “It’s

blink at him, confusion warring with a sudden surge of unease. “What? Why?”

for a moment but he turns on the water and rinses it all down the drain, his movements quick and efficient, before tossing the cup in the

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

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

me?

you?” I ask, hating that I’m suspicious of the one person at this

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The

“The alcohol level in the punch is a bit much for

by the way your nose wrinkles every time you look

voice sounding small even

problem. You sure you’re okay? You need me

but I’m good. My friend’s meeting me here.”

take care of yourself, okay? And if you need anything, just let me know. I know how

here.”

New?

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

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