Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 144 Ava: Searching for a Candle

It takes a little more effort than | expected to convince Dr. Beaumont to dischargehome, but after promising

up and down to let Vanessa visit twice a day for bloodwork and vitals, | finally get my way.

Lucas treatslike a fragile vase on the way to the apartment, worrying over leavingin Lisa's place alone.

He's not thrilled that | refuse to go to the alpha lodge in the wake of the vampire attack, and it feels like the

entire apartment building is filled with wolf shifters in suits, glowering at everyone who passes by.

But I still count it as a win.

| can't believe two healthy adult women in their twenties don't have a single candle in their apartment. Selene

noses open a cabto sniff inside, before clicking her nails across the kitchen to another one. Nothing here.

As she checks the lower cabinets, | shove my way through our everything drawer, only coming up with a small

lighter. Helpful, but only half of what I need.

| even check the pantry, but there's no waxy pillar to be found.

Going behind Selene, | double check where she's already looked, ignoring her half-offended snort when | come

up as empty as she did.

| told you, there are no candles. My nose works quicker and better than your eyes.

We've already checked Lisa's room and mine. Not a single candle to be had.

How are we out of candles? At the bare minimum, we should have shandy in case the electricity ever goes

out,

| stalk to the bathroom, flinging open drawers. "Where the hell are the candles?"

Selene opens the linen cabwith a deft paw, shoving her head inside to sniff.

It's all towels, of course.

And shampoo.

And soap.

All things that make her sneeze.

| slam another drawer shut. "We didn't buy any because of all the wolves around. Scented stuff bothers your

noses."

Selene snorts. Point taken. But on TV, the girls are always taking bubble baths with scented candles.

| roll my eyes. "You watch too much TV. It's going to rot your brain."

My brain is just fine. Although | question yours sometimes...

I ignore her, yanking open the cabunder the sink. Jackpot. | pull out a dusty lavender candle. "Finally."

Selene reaches out with her nose for a quick sniff, sneezing again. It smells terrible. Nothing like lavenders.

A sharp knock on the door startles us both, and | set the candle aside. I'll have to call for Sister Miriam later.

Unlocking the door, | swing it open, unsurprised to find Lucas standing there, hands shoved in his pockets and

brows furrowed. Who else would make it past all the guards to knock on my door?

He hasn't been gone long, though.

"Did you need something?" | ask, as my heart races from his presence.

Ever since dancing with Teddy, since realizing that no other person can makefeel what Lucas does—it's like

I'm weak to the fated pull between us.

Almost like | never put up walls at all.

If it wasn't for the current situation, I'd probably throw myself at him shamelessly.

Lisa would have loved that.

Shaking off the morose thoughts that plagueat the thought of Teddy's face, slack in death, and Lisa's

absence, | reach for Lucas' hand and pull him inside, not missing how his eyes light up when I do so.

It makesfeel like shit when I realize how little I've ever reached out to him. How much I've pushed him away.

He is patient, Selene says, sounding as if she'd rather be murdered than admit it.

"I don't feel comfortable leaving you alone, Ava. Not with Lisa gone." Lucas’ fingers slide through mine as he

shuts the door behind him, cutting us off from the bodyguards he has watching over me. "I'm supposed to be

meeting with Kellan, but | wasn't sure how you would handle being here alone."

I'd been just fine—because | was busy hunting down a candle to do something behind his back.

Guilt pokes at me. "It's hard," | agree, because it is. | don't like looking around and knowing that Lisa isn't here.

"But I'll be fine, Lucas. Really. You have enough on your plate, and I'd rather have you looking for her than—"

"It's not just about that," he cutsoff, voice low and tense. "You were attacked, Ava. Vampires invaded my

territory. Attacked my mate." His jaw clenches. "I couldn't be there to protect you, but | can at least be here so

you're not alone. | won't drag you to the alpha lodge, if this is where you want to be.

But | don't feel right leaving you here without her. | can stay for a little bit."

| open my mouth to argue, to insist that | can take care of myself, but the words die on my tongue.

Of course I'm scared. I'm terrified.

| went from feeling safe and thinking Lucas and Kellan were worrywarts, to my best friend being kidnapped by a

vampire.

Even living as a supernatural doesn't prepare you for that.

Vampires are so closed off from society, it's like they don't even exist.

Maybe having Lucas nearby isn't the worst idea. But if he's here, | can't call Sister Miriam and find out what she

knows.

Selene nudges my hand with her wet nose, sensing my inner turmoil. | stroke her silky fur, drawing strength from

her steady presence.

You need to rest, she says softly. No matter how much you want to save her, you can't do anything until you've

regained your strength.

Taking tfor myself feels like a betrayal of Lisa's friendship. Like | should be spending every waking second

trying to get her back.

Lucas and Kellan are doing what they can. If anything is found, Kellan can inform his alpha through the pack link.

It will be fine.

"Okay," | relent, stepping back to let Lucas inside. "But just for tonight. | don't need a babysitter."

A ghost of a smile flickers across his face as he crosses the threshold. "Duly noted."

He shrugs out of his jacket, draping it over the back of the couch before turning to face me. Even in a simple

black t-shirt, he looks imposing, all coiled strength and barely restrained power. But there's a softness in his eyes

when they land on me, a tenderness that makes my breath catch.

"How are you feeling?" he asks, reaching out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind my ear. His fingertips graze my

skin and | suppress a shiver.

"Better," | answer honestly. I'm still a little tired. A little weak. But the pain is gone, and I'm feeling almost

normal.

Except for when you fell into the doorframe, fell onto the couch because you lost your balance looking in the

baskets beneath the coffee table, fell taking off your shoes—

| scowl at Selene as Lucas pullstoward the couch by my hand, and | swear her husky face is laughing at me.

It's a moment of normalcy in this insanity, enough to makerelax as Lucas tugsdown to sit next to him.

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