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

send and lean back against the counter, watching the three

2 get air, u ok?]

Air. Right. More like she snuck off with

in a

that I can blame

then I stare at her text, a sinking feeling in my belly.

never uses

Think I might head out soon though.

where

[AVA: Kitchen.]

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

beside it.

why someone would

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Ava. The

I wanted one? Did someone think I

my

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

hairs on the back of my neck prickle, a shiver

room.

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

he asks, his brow furrowing as he takes in my expression. “You look a little…” He trails

fine,” I say automatically, the lie tasting bitter on my tongue. “Just tired,

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The

eyes, too quick for me to

light but his expression serious. “It’s probably

at him, confusion warring with a sudden surge of unease.

sweet smell is stronger 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 trash.

trust me on this one, okay?

What kind of stuff? And why would someone give

me?

the one person at this

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Ava: The

cares about his pack,” he says, with a faint smile. “The alcohol level in

the way your nose wrinkles every time you look at a

say slowly, my voice sounding small even

“No problem. You sure you’re okay? You need

uneasy. “Thanks, but

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

here.”

New?

to get new blood, but it feels awkward to pry. He hadn’t mentioned it, even when he talked about his job and aspirations. It might be private, and I don’t want him to feel the way I

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