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.

course, calculated to sting at the beta's pride. Kellan's jaw sets in a way that I see far too often these days,

way. While I'm doing better at standing up for myself,

I disagree. It's just that I can't live like this

can't hide me away forever. It's worse than being home. At least I used to have a job and some freedom

flinch and agonized look bring that familiar feel

the words you speak. Do not walk them back. It's okay to feel

with gratitude. But she's not, so I

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

floods through me. "He

alpha's mate,"

my nerves like sandpaper. "I'm not his mate, Kellan.

at me, exasperated. "Denial

feelings not being clear. I clench my jaw, standing my ground. "No. I'm sick of

I'm

out of me, heated and sharp. I'm so tired of my 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 someone's possession. Even Clayton's people had thought

Ava. A me without any other consideration.

mind, her presence a comforting

me, straightening my spine. I

surrender. "Fine, fine. I'm trusting you to back me up when Lucas loses his

won't," I say firmly. "Because he knows I'm right. He knows I'm more than

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