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.

at the beta's pride. Kellan's jaw sets in a way that I see far too often these days, and he gives up arguing with Lisa to turn

Lisa." Interrupting him before he can continue 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

that I disagree. It's just that I can't

away forever. It's worse than being home. At least I used to have a job and some

bring that familiar

are not wrong in the words you speak. Do not walk them back. It's okay to

she were with me, I would pet her and hug her with gratitude. But she's not, so I settle for sending

hand down his face. "Lucas is going to kill me," he mutters under his breath, but

floods through me. "He has

the alpha's mate,"

nerves like sandpaper. "I'm not his mate, Kellan. How many times

"Denial only goes so

inability to see me 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

name is Ava. Not 'Lucas's mate.' I'm more than just an

identity being tied to a man, a bond I never asked for. First, it was my father and my pack, dictating my every move. Now, it's Lucas and his pack, treating me like I'm fragile, like I'm

me without any other consideration. Someone who isn't

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

spine. I meet Kellan's gaze head-on, refusing to back

trusting

he knows I'm right. He knows I'm

doubt curls in my stomach. Lucas and I are complicated. We're fated mates with an awkward history. The 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 in an effort to