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.

you? I can’t find

three

2 get air, u ok?]

More like she snuck

in a shadowy corner somewhere.

that I can blame her.

stare at her text,

never uses

head out soon though. Not

where r

[AVA: Kitchen.]

my gaze, the sticky–sweet scent of punch mingling with the bowl

beside it.

why someone would just

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The

think I wanted one? Did someone think

parties aren’t my

right, Selene whispers in my mind, her

Between Lisa’s sudden use

back of my neck prickle, a shiver running down my spine despite

room.

at the corners of his mouth as he weaves his way through the small clusters of people.

his brow furrowing as he takes in my

fine,” I say automatically, the lie tasting bitter on my

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Ava: The Party (V)

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

his expression serious. “It’s probably better if you don’t

a sudden surge

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

on this one, okay? There’s some stuff going around that you don’t want to mess

What does he mean? What

me?

of the one

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The Party

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

nose wrinkles

voice sounding small even

shoulders relaxing a fraction. “No problem. You sure you’re okay?

shake my head, still feeling uneasy. “Thanks, but I’m

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

here.”

New?

to pry. He hadn’t mentioned it, even when he

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