Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted novel Chapter 129

129 Ava: Getting Ready

“Holy shit.” Staring at my reflection in Lisa’s full–length mirror, the transformation is amazing.

Lisa’s jeans hug my curves like they were made for me, accentuating the newfound definition of my legs. I twist, admiring how my butt looks. Damn. Jericho’s torture sessions are paying off.

Lisa grins at me from her perch on the bed,

surrounded by a sea of discarded tops. “See? I told you we’re basically the same size now.”

I run my hands over my hips, marveling at the fit. “I’ve always been too big for your clothes. This is wild.” Ever since I took over the meals and grocery shopping, the one luxury I’d ever been able to afford was eating a little extra. It translated to a smidgen of extra padding and a little tummy flub. Running from the pack burned

off the rest of it.

“Well, get used to it, babe. We’re going to be trading clothes all the time now.” Lisa tosses a silky black top at me. “Try this one with it.”

I catch the top and slip it over my head, shimmying a

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129 Ava: Getting Roady

little to get it past my chest. The fabric drapes just right, skimming my body in all the perfect places. I stare at myself, hardly recognizing the girl in the mirror.

“Damn, Ava. You look hot,” Lisa says, coming to stand beside me. She bumps her hip against mine. “Lucas will go wild if he sees you in this. Maybe we should dress you in a potato sack when we leave so he doesn’t come flying back to bring you home.”

My cheeks warm at the mention of Lucas. “I’m not dressing up for him,” I mutter, fiddling with the hem of

the top.

Lisa rolls her eyes. “Yes, yes, I know. It isn’t like he’s here. But you’re going to end up sending him a picture, aren’t you? Just–wait until later. So he doesn’t crash the party.”

I glance down at the black top and jeans. Sending a selfie hadn’t even crossed my mind, but maybe she has a point. “Black looks good on everyone. It’s a classic.”

“Uh–huh. Keep telling yourself that.” Lisa winks at me before turning to rifle through her jewelry box. “Here, these will complete the look.”

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120 Ava: Gotting Ready

She hands me a pair of silver hoop earrings and a delicate pendant necklace. I put them on, letting the pendant nestle just above my cleavage. The final touch to my transformation.

I hardly recognize myself as I take in the full effect. The girl staring back at me looks confident, sexy, ready to take on the world. A far cry from the timid,

uncertain Ava I’ve been lately.

“Selene, what do you think?” I do a little twirl. “How do

I look?”

My husky lifts her head from where she’s lounging on Lisa’s rug. Like a fierce she–wolf, she says, her tone warm with approval.

“Alright, your turn,” I say to Lisa, moving to flop onto the bed. “Let’s see what scandalous outfit you’re going to torture Kellan with tonight.”

Lisa laughs and starts pawing through her closet. “Kellan isn’t even on my radar. He’s way too

testosterone–filled for me. Oh! I have just the thing. He won’t be able to take his eyes off me. Not that I want

him to look.”

Of course she doesn’t.”

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129 Ava: Getting Ready

I watch her pull out dress after dress, a rainbow of colors and sequins. This is nice, the two of us getting ready. No drama, no life–or–death stakes. Just two best friends primping for a party.

For a moment, I can almost forget about the tangle of complications waiting for me outside this room. The mysterious text, Sister Miriam’s cryptic words, my missing family, my newfound powers, the unresolved tension with Lucas and Clayton. In here, it’s just me and Lisa, giggling over clothes and gossip.

“Okay, I think this is the one.” Lisa emerges from the closet, holding up a slinky red number. “Thoughts?”

It’s far more revealing than anything I can pull off, and I whistle. “Kellan’s the one we’re going to have to worry about. He’s not going to let us go anywhere looking like this.”

“As if he has a choice.”

“We don’t need his permission,” I agree, laughing.

“Exactly.” She winks before shimmying into the dress. It clings to her like a second skin, the neckline plunging dangerously low.

“Watch out world Lion Dandall is on the prowl” I tanna

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129 Ava: Getting Ready

We stand there shoulder to shoulder, taking in our reflections. Me in my sleek black ensemble, her in her va–va–voom red dress. We look good. Powerful. Ready to take on anything.