Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted - Chapter 358

Chapter 358: Ava: Girl Talk
Left alone, I take the opportunity to glance around the cabin. It’s cozy, with a rustic charm that suits Kellan. My eyes land on the couch, and I’m surprised to see a pillow and blanket neatly folded at one end. It looks like Kellan’s been sleeping there.

The realization makes me frown. I knew things were awkward between Lisa and Kellan, but I didn’t realize it had gotten to the point where they weren’t even sharing a bed. The whole “fated mates” situation is clearly causing more tension than I’d thought.

I settle into an armchair to wait.

The shower shuts off, and a few minutes later, Lisa emerges wrapped in a fluffy towel, her hair damp and skin flushed from the hot water.

“Feel better?” I ask.

She nods, grabbing some clothes from a nearby dresser. “Much. Nothing like a hot shower after freezing your butt off outside.”

As she dresses, I can’t help but ask about what I’ve noticed. “So, um, is Kellan sleeping on the couch?”

Lisa pauses, her shirt halfway over her head. She pulls it down slowly, avoiding my gaze. “Yeah.”

I wait, giving her space to elaborate if she wants to. After a moment, she sighs and sits on the edge of the bed.

“It’s just… this whole fated mates thing is a lot, you know? I mean, I like Kellan. He’s great. But it feels like there’s all this pressure and expectation for our future, and I’m not sure I’m ready for that.”

Sympathetic to her plight, I can only nod. “It’s a big adjustment, especially for someone who wasn’t raised in pack culture.”

Lisa runs a hand through her damp hair. “Exactly. And Kellan’s been so patient and understanding, but I can tell it’s hard for him too. But, you know, he’s Kellan, and always trying to be a gentleman. So he decided he should give me even more space the other day.”

“Hence the couch,” I conclude.

“Hence the couch,” she agrees with a wry smile.

I lean back in the chair, considering her words. Despite her words, there’s a layer of frustration in her voice.

“How are you feeling about it all?”

Lisa shrugs, her expression a mix of emotions. “Honestly? I’m not sure. Part of me is drawn to Kellan in a way I can’t explain. But another part of me is terrified of what it all means. I mean, am I supposed to just accept that some mystical force has decided who I’m meant to be with for the rest of my life?”

I think about my own complicated relationship with Lucas, the push and pull between us. “I get it,” I say softly. “It’s not always as simple as the stories make it out to be.”

Lisa looks at me gratefully. “Exactly. And then there’s all this other stuff going on. It’s a lot to process.”

“Have you talked to Kellan about how you’re feeling?”

She sighs. “A little. But every time I do, it’s like he thinks he’s not giving me enough space, and it drives us further…” A vague gesture toward the couch. “Apart. Anyway. Enough about us.”

I arch a brow, but don’t push the subject any further. If she doesn’t want to talk about it, I’m not going to force her.

“How are things with you and Lucas?”

I can’t help but chuckle at her attempt to change the subject. “Oh, you know. Complicated in our own special way.”

Lisa raises an eyebrow. “Care to elaborate?”

I consider for a moment. “Have you heard any rumors lately?”

* * *

An hour later, armed with a tiny stash of venison jerky, four bottles of water, a freshly baked loaf of bed, and a watery soup that’s more potatoes than sausage—but surprisingly delicious—Lisa slams her hand against Kellan’s dining table.

“She’s outrageous.”

Shrugging, I shred a sliver of jerky into my soup. “But what am I supposed to do? She isn’t technically doing anything. And she might get a little too close to Lucas, but he doesn’t do anything to raise her hopes, either.”

“Send her back to Washington. We don’t need her here.”

I blow on my soup, even though it’s already lukewarm, before taking a bite. As I chew, a warmth spreads through me that has nothing to do with the temperature of the food. It’s nice to have someone be outraged on my behalf. Lisa always delivers on that front.

Me, too, Selene protests.

Yes, yes, you too.

“I can’t just send her back,” I say finally. “She’s the official liaison between packs.”

Lisa’s frowns, stabbing her spoon into her soup in a savage motion. “But Lucas and Clayton are friends, right? Can’t Lucas just tell Clayton what’s going on?”

“Once again, aside from overstepping her boundaries about the food, Ivy hasn’t technically done anything wrong. And she’s very popular among both packs.”

“But she’s spreading these awful rumors!”

“Have you ever heard any of this from Ivy’s own mouth?”

Lisa scowls, her fingers tightening around her spoon. “The rumors wouldn’t be so prevalent if she would stop them. Since she isn’t, they’re basically coming from her.”

I lean back in my chair, considering her words. She’s not entirely wrong, but the situation is more complex than that. “It seems like a stupid reason to sow discord between our packs. Especially considering what Lucas and Clayton had to overcome to even remain friends after—well, you know.”

She goes silent at that, the bluster knocked out of her. She swirls her spoon in her soup, even though there’s very little left in her bowl. The silence stretches between us, filled only by the soft clink of metal against ceramic.

“That must be weird,” she says finally, her voice quiet.

“Yeah,” I agree heavily. “It really is.”

“I just wish…” Lisa starts, then trails off. She looks up at me, her eyes filled with a mix of frustration and concern. “I just wish it was easier for you. You’ve been through so much already.”

“I wish things were easier for all of us.” Reaching over, I poke at her shoulder. “For you, too. We still haven’t gotten word about your parents. That’s way worse than having to deal with Ivy on a daily basis.”

She sighs. “Yeah. It sucks.”

There isn’t much to say to that. It does suck. A lot. Her parents have no idea she’s alive and healthy and thriving here.

We don’t know if they’re alive, either.

“You know,” I say, breaking the silence, “maybe we’re looking at this all wrong. Instead of trying to get rid of Ivy, maybe we need to find a way to work with her.”

Lisa looks skeptical. “Work with her? After everything she’s done?”

I shrug. “She hasn’t really done anything, remember? And she is good at her job. Maybe if we include her more, make her feel like she’s truly part of the pack, she’ll be less likely to cause problems. I’ve been keeping her at arm’s length because she always makes me feel awkward, but…”

“Or she’ll use it as an opportunity to get closer to Lucas,” Lisa mutters.

“Maybe,” I concede, because Lisa’s probably right. What’s that saying? A leopard doesn’t change its spots. “But Lucas has made his choice clear. And if Ivy can’t respect that, then she’ll be the one causing problems, not me.”

Lisa nods slowly, considering my words. “I guess that makes sense. But Ava, you have to promise me something.”

“What’s that?”

“Don’t let her walk all over you. You’re the Luna of this pack. You have power, whether you realize it or not.”

I feel a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. “I promise. No doormat Ava here.”