Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 125 Ava: Negotiating the Invitation

The ominous text halts me in place, and Lisa peers over my shoulder.

"A candle?" she asks, confused.

Oh, right—I haven't spoken to her yet about my revelation of Sister Miriam's words at our parting. Only Selene knows.

Catching Lisa's eye, I give a quick shake of my head and slide the phone into my pocket. Kellan's in the distance, walking toward us.

Lisa, as quick-thinking as ever, grabs onto my arm again and returns to her ruminations about the party. By the time the beta's near us, his face is thunderclouds and lightning.

"No way," he announces, before Lisa can even say anything.

Undeterred, Lisa stands straight, toe-to-toe with him in a way I see far too often. These two will never get along. "I'm not asking, Beta Ashbourne. I'm informing you. Friday will be busy. We're going to a party."

"Absolutely not."

"Stop treating us like prisoners!"

"You aren't prisoners," he refutes immediately. "We're doing our best to keep you safe. A party? That's not safe."

"'That's not safe,'" she mimics, rolling her eyes. "So, what, we're going to be stuck in my apartment forever? We can't live at all? Can't do anything? Because to me, it sounds like you're saying Westwood is a bunch of weak-ass wolves who can't protect two little girls in their own territory."

She's a spitfire, Selene approves, back in my head again. Her marathon must be over.

jaw sets in a way that I see far too often these

is the best way. While I'm doing better at standing up for myself, I'm not great at arguing when they bring up good points, like how unnecessary a party might be compared to

It's just that I can't live like this forever, and

hide me away forever. It's worse than being home. At least

and agonized look bring that familiar feel of

are not wrong in the words you speak.

were with me, I would pet her and hug her with gratitude. But she's not, so I settle for sending her my intense feelings of love and appreciation through our

running a hand down his face. "Lucas is going to

"He has

the alpha's mate,"

"I'm not his

looks at me, exasperated. "Denial only goes so far,

as anything other than my supposed rank. The one they've already decided on, despite my own feelings not being clear. I clench my jaw, standing my ground. "No. I'm sick of this. I'm sick of constantly being thought of as his mate instead of being treated like a

I'm more than

for. First, it was my father and my pack, dictating my every move. Now, it's Lucas and his pack,

be Ava. A me without any other consideration. Someone who isn't judged by

says in my mind, her presence a comforting warmth. Stand

I meet Kellan's gaze head-on, refusing

holds up his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine. I'm trusting you to

I'm right. He knows I'm more than just his... whatever I am to

bond between us is undeniable, a living, breathing thing, and I can't underestimate it. Like that day at the hospital, it will throw me into his arms