Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 126 Ava: A Subtle Switch

"Ava, | don't think this is a good idea." Lucas’ voice is strained, and despite not knowing him well, | can imagine

him pacing, his hands clenched in frustration.

"It doesn't matter, because I'm going." Thankful he can't see me, | cringe a little at how childish | sound.

Standing up to myself is new, and every t| do, | feel like a rebellious teenager.

I never had a rebellious teenage stage, but | imagine this is how they sound. It remindsof Jessa's whining,

anyway. She always complained that Mom and Dad were ruining her life with their strict rules and demands that

she stop dating whatever boy was the flavor of her week, saying she needed to be mindful of her future mate

pairing.

Obviously she'd grown out of it at spoint. Maybe it's my turn to sound like one.

"Ava..."

"No." | cut him off before he can start his arguments. Much like Kellan, he likes to throw logical connections in

there that confuseon how to respond without sounding like an irresponsible brat, and I don't like that. "I've

been playing by your rules this entire time, and I'm tired of it. You have guards on us. Kellan's around. He sleeps

in our apartment.

| have to beg for even an hour away from him. This life is unsustainable, and I refuse to live like this anymore.

Either tellI'm your prisoner, or givesfreedom."

While I'm not discounting my safety, | have a feeling that my family is nowhere near Westwood. The most logical

thought process to have is that Alpha Renard would want to gain power to fight back, right? That's not going to

happen in Westwood.

You must still be on guard, Selene whispers.

| know. But the danger isn't imminent.

Lucas sighs through the speaker, and | feel a little of the tension in my shoulders ease. He doesn't sound angry,

just exhausted.

"I'm sorry, Ava. | never meant for you to feel like this."

The words it's fine want to cto my lips, but | can sense Lisa's dagger stare into the side of my face. Lucas is

on speaker, in case | lose my nerve and need Lisa to step in.

When I glance at her, she mouths don't you DARE apologize, jabbing her finger between the phone and me.

Kellan's in the kitchen, probably listening to every word as he organizes the food he had delivered. Spasta

or something. It smells great.

"We just need to change things," | say instead of apologizing, hating how guilty that makesfeel. Apologizing

to smooth things over is how my entire life has worked.

"I'll make it work," he says, and sof my tension eases when | realize he isn't upset that | haven't apologized.

"I want you to be happy, Ava."

Lisa looks smug as she givesa thumbs up.

I'm about to say I'm already happy, but shut my mouth before the words cout. I'm not happy. Yet another

thing | need to unlearn; speaking untruths in hopes that it will help avoid bad feelings.

"I appreciate that," | say instead, remembering the phrases Lisa forcedto memorize a few days ago. All

things to say in awkward moments instead of apologizing or downplaying my feelings. | appreciate that, I'm sorry

you feel that way, I'll take that into consideration.

Lucas is silent for a few beats. "I miss you, Ava."

My heart skips when | hear the sadness in his words. Lisa arches her brows at me, but | have no idea what she

means by the expression. "I miss you, too." It's true. | do. There's a huge part ofthat craves his proximity,

that wants him to cback so we can be as close as physically possible. Even when I'm not thinking of him,

there's a part ofattuned to his existence, even far away.

A place in my chest that wants to be filled by our bond.

"Should | cback?" His overeager response has Lisa slapping both hands over her mouth, her eyes dancing.

"No. You have work to do." Also, if he's here, none of the shifters will seeas anything other than his mate. |

don't want that. | need to make progress with these wolves without him around.

It's funny how the sound of silence can change depending on the atmosphere.

I'm no longer tense, and there's even a faint smile curving my lips. Lisa's bouncing in place, no doubt ready to

explode with things she wants to say.

"There's nothing more important tothan you, Ava. Your happiness. Your smile. Everything about you."

Lisa's practically flailing, so | grab my phone and take it off speakerphone, giving her a stern look before fleeing

to my room. She doesn't need to hear any more.

"You're the alpha, Lucas. You have responsibilities."

"I'd throw them all away for you." | can tell by the sound of his voice that he's smiling. "My wolf would love that."

Selene would not, but I don't need to tell him that. "I'm doing fine here. I'm getting stronger. Amara's great."

Even though I'm not sure she likesvery much. "Lisa's doing good, too. They say she's doing great for a

human."

"That's great to hear." There's a creak, and | find myself wondering if he's in his office chair, swaying from side to

side. That's kind of what it sounds like.

"Thank you for not fightingabout the party, Lucas." I'm not sure if thanking him for doing what Lisa calls the

right thing is what | should be doing, but it feels right.

Then again, as Lisa also says, my normal meter is broken. So maybe | shouldn't go off my feelings.

"You shouldn't be thanking me, Ava," he says, sounding a little frustrated. There's an odd sound in the

background, like a motor of ssort. "You need to tellwhat you're feeling. | know you don't like the guards,

and I'm not going to compromise on that. But | want you to be happy. I'll do anything for you.

I'll prove that to you as many times as you need."

What is this feeling in my belly? It's like butterflies and something more. Something beyond the bond.

"I know." Ssort of anxious feeling flutters through me, and I pace, grinning like a loon. "I mean, | think | get

it. It's going to taketime."

"Take as much tas you need, angel. I'm here for the long haul." He grunts, and another weird sound comes

through the phone.

It sounds wet.

"Lucas, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Just working and dropped something."

"Oh. You must be busy."

"Of course not. I'm never too busy for you. The entire world can wait while | answer your calls."

| think | know that feeling now.

It's excitement.

We're flirting, aren't we?

I think we are.

"Even if | call in the middle of the night?"

"Even then."

"What if | call while you're in a business meeting?"

"Then, too."

"And when you're with another woman?"

"There's never another woman, Ava. Even if you believe nothing else, you should believe that."

The laugh that comes out ofis soft and breathy. "Okay. I'll try to remember that."

"Are you... Ava, are you jealous? There are no female shifters anywhere around me, | promise you."

"I'm not jealous. | don't know anyone to be jealous of." Maybe | should ask him more questions about himself.

About his work. About his day.

He asks me, every twe're on the phone.

It occurs tothat I've been demanding a lot from a man when | don't give him much in return.

Well, there was the day you were discharged, Selene mutters in my head, still upset we did it with her in the

room, pretending to sleep.

Hush.

"You can be jealous. I'll just have to make it up to you whenever you are."

The way his voice drops low sends a thrill straight to all the womanly parts ofthat want his undivided

attention. Somehow, this innocent flirtation has stepped over a line | didn't realize was there.

Abort, abort. Not experienced enough for this.

So | laugh awkwardly. "I think Kellan is done getting our dinner ready. I'll talk to you later, Lucas."

"I'll miss you every second we're apart, Ava."

Still with that husky voice.

"I'll miss you too." Somehow, | feel like something's switched inside oftoday. Like he's entered a little deeper

into the heart I've kept guarded.

"Ava?"

"Yes?"

"When | get back, I'm going to hug you. And kiss you. And maybe a hell of a lot more. So prepare yourself."

"What if | say no?"

"Then | won't. But | don't think you will."

His arrogance should haveupset. | feel like even a day ago, | would have been.

Instead, those butterflies in my belly ramp up their dancing. "We'll see."

"| like a challenge, Ava."

There's another odd sound, and something that sounds—I'm not sure. It sounds like noises a human or animal

would make. "What are you doing, Lucas? | keep hearing weird things."

"Tying up loose ends. Go eat dinner, my love. Can | call you later tonight?"

| nod, even though he can't see me. "I'll call you after my shower, instead."

"I'll hold you to it, angel."

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