Unshift

204 Ava: You Know About the Fae?

My phone rings just as Kellan pulls into the driveway of the alpha lodge, waking me from a light doze

“Hello?”

“Ava.”

Lucas‘ voice is warm and soft, despite the edge of exhaustion I can

hear within it.

“Hey, handsome.” My lips curve even as my cheeks heat; being flirtatious doesn’t come naturally.

Kellan’s stare in my direction doesn’t help the embarrassment churning in my gut, and I hop out of the SUV as quickly as I can.

Of course, I stumble, my foot somehow catching in the seatbelt in my hurry, and the phone clatters out of my grasp, skittering across the driveway as I shriek, falling onto half my face and scratching up both hands.

My knees are somehow spared, but there are a lot of people helping me to my feet.

Too many people. All of them careful not to make eye contact, even as Kellan rushes over to check me for injuries.

“My phone. I need my phone.” Lucas is probably freaking out.

“Marcus has it. He’s talking to him.” After reassuring himself that I haven’t broken anything and am–more or less–intact, Kellan steps back and Marcus slides my phone into my hand.

“Ava? Are you okay?”

14:54

204 Ava: You Know About the Fae?

“Yeah, I’m fine. I just got tangled up in the seatbelt and fell.”

Having to actually say it out loud somehow makes the entire

situation even worse.

“Pretty sure I taught you how to fall. Never once did I teach you to land on your damn face,” Jericho barks from behind the crowd, and Lucas laughs quietly in my ear.

The old shifter’s voice is way too loud.

“He’s going to be drilling you on falls again tomorrow morning,” my mate says, sounding way too amused at my plight.

“Oh, my God,” I mutter into the phone, feeling my cheeks burn. I can practically hear the old wolf’s smirk, even with my back to him.

Kellan and Marcus lead me into the lodge, which somehow feels more humid than outside. Comfortable silence settles between me and Lucas over the phone all the way to my room, though I can feel Kellan’s gaze on me every few steps, as if he’s making sure I’m not about to face–plant again.

As soon as I open the door, a blur of white and grey fur barrels into me, nearly knocking me off my feet. Selene’s tongue is everywhere, her entire body wiggling with the force of her wagging tail. No one would expect her inner soul to be wolf with the dog–like

overreaction to my return.

“Oof. Hi, Selene.”

You smell weird.

“So do you.” And she does. Kind of like pot roast. And potatoes. “Have you been sneaking food from the kitchen?”

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204 Ava: You Know About the Fae?

I didn’t sneak it. They gave it to me

Wolf shifters seem to like having a dog around, because the list of people feeding Selene food is getting longer by the minute.

“Is that Selene?” Lucas asks.

“Yeah. I just got to my room.”

He makes a soft sound, before saying, “My wolf misses her. He’s been whining about it. He misses you, too. And so do I.”

“I miss you, too.”

Words like that come much easier after having said them several

times before.

Flopping onto my bed with a sigh, I realize Marcus hasn’t followed

me into the room. “Oh, that’s weird. Where’s Marcus?” I ask Selene.

But of course, Lucas hears me, since he’s on the phone. “No one wants to eavesdrop when I’m on the phone with you. They know better.”

Warmth blooms in my chest. “Sounds like you’re in a good mood. How did the Council meeting go?”

Almost immediately, I can feel the shift in his demeanor, even through the phone. He sighs heavily, the sound crackling in my ear. “Negotiating with alphas is much like negotiating with children. They’re all so damned self–absorbed.”

I settle onto the bed, Selene curling up beside me. “You’re not self–absorbed.”

“Aren’t I?” There’s a bitter edge to his laugh. “I’ve done plenty of

14:54

204 Ava: You Know About the Fao?

things for the good of my pack, Ava. I went after Blackwood

without going to the Council for permission because I knew they’d try to stop me.”

I go silent, chewing on my bottom lip. It’s not like I can argue with him. Before I can formulate a response, he continues.

“I’m worried about Alpha Talon of Whispering Pines. He’s been an absolute fuck during these meetings.”

“Alpha Talon?” I frown. “But I’ve heard he’s a neutral and fair alpha.” Though, granted, it’s not like I know that much about any of them.

“That’s only because you’ve never met him, love. Trust me, he’s anything but neutral. I need you to promise me you’ll stay away from the Whispering Pines pack.”

“I promise,” I say without hesitation. “I have no reason to go near them anyway.”

“Good.” He exhales, some of the tension leaving his voice. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to unload on you. I just… I miss you. And I

worry.”

“I know.” I wish I could reach through the phone and smooth the furrow I know is between his brows. “I miss you too. But we’ll be together again soon.”

“Not soon enough,” he grumbles, and I can’t help but laugh.

We talk for a while longer, about everything and nothing. He tells me about the alphas visiting Westwood, and I fill him on the strange phone call. He isn’t thrilled about that–of course.

“Be careful, Ava. I don’t like that they’re calling you.”

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4/5S

204 Ava: You Know About the Fae?

Rolling onto my stomach, I pet Selene, who’s snuggled beside me. “I know. It doesn’t sound like they’re allied with the vampires,

though. The way they talked about Lisa… I’m not sure. It’s a weird. feeling I have.”

“We can’t just go off feelings. You’re in too much danger for that.”

“I know, I know. I’m not going to run off doing anything crazy. We don’t even know who these people are.”

“If they’re Fae…” Lucas sounds doubtful. “Dealing with the Fae is tricky–business. They’re usually busy in their own realm and don’t come here. Those that do usually want something. They’re single–minded in their goals.”

“You know about the Fae?” Somehow, this fact startles me.

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