Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 134 Ava: The Party (V)

He seems nice, Selene says.

Yeah, he does. When we part so | can return to Lisa's side, he doesn't cling or say anything, just wavesoff

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, | 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.

| 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 | can't make out the

words. But | 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 she

laughs, leaning into the broad-shouldered man beside her. Chloe's green eyes flick to mine, a smirk curling her

lips. | quickly look away.

| don't know what their goal was in bringinghere, but | don't need to know.

They're not on my side. That's enough to know | want nothing to do with them.

Someone jostlesfrom behind and | 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 | turn to look, he's already disappeared back into the crowd.

| stare down at the cup in my hand, the sickly artificial scent of fruit and alcohol wafting up to my nose. My

stomach churns. | don't want to be here anymore, suffocating under the weight of shifter superiority and teenage

hormones. | just want to find Lisa and go home.

Clutching the cup, | 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. | set the cup down on the counter with a shaky hand and pull out my

phone.

[AVA: Where are you? | can't find you anywhere.]

I hit send and lean back against the counter, watching the three dots that indicate Lisa is typing. They disappear.

Reappear. Disappear again.

[LISA: sry went 2 get air, u ok?]

| snort. Air. Right. More like she snuck off with Brendan to make out in a shadowy corner somewhere. Not that |

can blher.

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

Lisa never uses text speak.

[AVA: I'm fine. Think | might head out soon though. Not really feeling the party vibe.]

[LISA: kk where r u?]

[AVA: Kitchen.]

The cup I'd set on the counter draws my gaze, the sticky-sweet scent of punch mingling with the bowl beside it.

| still don't understand why someone would just shove it in my hands. Did they think | wanted one? Did someone

think | was just picking up trash?

It's clear that parties aren't my scene. | feel lost here.

Something's not right, Selene whispers in my mind, her presence a comforting warmth. Stay alert.

I nod, more to myself than to her. She's right. Something is off. Between Lisa's sudden use of text speak and that

odd wrong feeling that's been plaguingsince | got here...

The hairs on the back of my neck prickle, a shiver running down my spine despite the warmth of the room.

A familiar face appears in the doorway. Teddy. His warm brown eyes meet mine, a smile tugging at the corners of

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

"Hey, you okay?" he asks, his brow furrowing as he takes in my expression. "You look a little..." He trails off,

shrugging.

"I'm fine," | say automatically, the lie tasting bitter on my tongue. "Just tired, | think. It's been a long day."

Teddy nods, his gaze dropping to the cup next to me. Something flashes in his eyes, too quick forto catch,

but it makes my stomach twist. He reaches out, plucking the cup from my fingers before | can react.

"Here, lettake that," he says, his voice light but his expression serious. "It's probably better if you don't drink

this."

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

Teddy doesn't answer, 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 rinses it all down the drain, his movements quick and

efficient, before tossing the cup in the trash.

When he turns back to me, his expression is carefully neutral. "Just truston this one, okay? There's some

stuff going around that you don't want to mess with."

| stare at him, my mind racing. What does he mean? What kind of stuff? And why would someone give it to me?

"Who are you?" | ask, hating that I'm suspicious of the one person at this party who's treatedwell.

"Just a wolf 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, do you? I can tell by the way your nose wrinkles every tyou look at a

drink."

"Okay," | say slowly, my voice sounding small even to my own ears. "Thanks, | guess."

Teddy nods, his shoulders relaxing a fraction. "No problem. You sure you're okay? You needto walk you out or

anything?"

| shake my head, still feeling uneasy. "Thanks, but I'm good. My friend's meetinghere."

Teddy hesitates, looking like he wants to say something more, but then he nods. "Alright. Well, take care of

yourself, okay? And if you need anything, just letknow. | know how it feels to be new around here."

New?

It's unusual for a pack 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 | don't want him to feel the way | did when Mia cornered