Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 21 Ava: Paranoia and Secrets (ll)

[LISA BURNER: Your brother's looking for you. | think he believesthat | don't know anything, but I'm not sure.

I'm deleting everything off this phone just in case. | have a bad feeling about this]

[AVA: Be careful. It might be better if we don't talk for a few weeks. | just heard two shifters talking earlier today;

it looks like they're finally searching.]

[LISA BURNER: | love you, Ave. I'm worried. Have | been watching too many crdocumentaries? Anyway, I'll

text you when it's safer.]

I clutch my phone in fear, the plastic case digging into my palm as I rush out of the lecture hall. My heart pounds

with a frantic rhythm, echoing the chaos in my mind. The two shifters’ words replay in an endless loop, fueling

the fear that coils tighter with each passing second.

Escape. | need to escape.

| weave through the throngs of students, desperate to put as much distance between myself and those who

might be searching for me. The world aroundblurs into a kaleidoscope of colors and faces, each one a

potential threat. | can't shake the feeling that eyes are watching my every move, that danger lurks in every

shadow.

The bus stop offers a brief respite, and | collapse onto the bench, gasping for air. My eyes dart back and forth,

scanning the crowd for any sign of pursuit. The minutes crawl by, each one amplifying the tension coiled within

me.

Finally, the bus arrives, and | board with a sense of urgency, clutching my bag close to my chest. As it lurches

forward, | sink into a seat near the back, my gaze fixed on the window, searching for any suspicious figures or

movements.

The ride is a blur of paranoia, every passenger a potential enemy. | study their faces, their mannerisms, looking

for any telltale signs that might give away their true nature. But all | see are ordinary people, oblivious to the

fear that grips me.

When the bus finally reaches my stop, | practically leap from my seat. Relief washes overas | spot Selene

waiting patiently, her bright blue eyes a beacon of familiarity in a world that suddenly feels so hostile.

"Selene," | breathe, my voice trembling. She trots over to me, her tail wagging, and for a moment, the weight on

my shoulders eases. Together, we hurry towards the safety of my apartment, my steps quickening with each

passing block.

The moment | step inside, the floodgates open. | slide down against the door, burying my face in my hands as

sobs wrack my body. Fear, frustration, and a deep sense of isolation crash overin waves, threatening to

drownin their depths.

Selene whines softly, nuzzling against my side, her warmth a comforting presence in the midst of my turmoil. |

cling to her, my fingers tangling in her soft fur, drawing strength from her unwavering loyalty.

The tears flow freely, a release of the pent-up emotions that have been building within me. | cry for the life I've

lost, for the family that has turned their backs on me, for the constant threat of discovery that looms over me

like a dark cloud.

* kK

| startle awake, my cheek pressed against my knees as the last vestiges of a nightmare cling to the edges of my

consciousness. Disoriented, | blink away the haze of sleep, taking in the familiar surroundings of my apartment,

lit only by moonlight peeking in through the window.

A soft whine draws my attention to Selene, curled up at my feet, her piercing blue eyes regardingwith

concern. A wave of affection washes overas | reach out to stroke her silky fur, her presence a constant

reminder that I'm not truly alone in this world.

As the tension in my body begins to uncoil, my stomach rumbles, remindingthat | haven't eaten properly

since breakfast. With a groan, | push myself up from the floor, my limbs protesting the prolonged period of

inactivity.

"Dinner time, girl," | murmur, offering Selene a weary smile as | make my way to the kitchen.

The familiar motions of cooking are soothing, a welcdistraction from the turmoil that had consumed me

earlier. | move through the motions with practiced ease, the sizzle of the pan and the aroma of sautéed

vegetables filling the air with a comforting warmth.

As | work, my mind drifts back to the events of the day, replaying the hushed conversation that had sent me

spiraling into a panic. The fear that had grippedso tightly begins to loosen its hold, replaced by a steely

resolve. | cannot let the threat of discovery paralyze me; | won't go back. | am free now, and | won't ever give

that up.

A noise drawsfrom my reverie, and | turn to find Selene sitting in the doorway, the unmistakable glimmer of

the purple crystal clenched between her jaws. A surprised laugh escapes my lips as | cross the room, reaching

out to gently pry the object from her mouth. She's obsessed with it, and I've had to hide it from her several times

over the past few months.

"Where did you find this, you little troublemaker?" | chide, holding the crystal up to the fading light.

As my fingers curl around the smooth surface, a jolt of energy courses through me, setting my nerves alight with

a tingling sensation. | gasp, nearly dropping the crystal in surprise, but something holdstransfixed, my gaze

locked on the mesmerizing play of light within its depths.

And then, a voice, soft and melodic, like the purr of a contented feline, whispers through the recesses of my

mind.

It's time.

The words reverberate through my very being, sending a shiver down my spine. | whirl around, searching for the

source of the voice, but the apartment is empty save for Selene, who regardswith a tilted head, as if sensing

the shift in the air.

"Who's there?" | call out, my voice wavering slightly.

But there is no response, and the crystal in my hand is now devoid of any of that energy I'd felt just a second

ago.

word

word

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