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.

I see far too often these days, and he

up for myself, I'm not great at arguing when they bring up good points, like how unnecessary a party might be compared to my

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

home. At least

agonized look bring that familiar feel

my mind soft and soothing. You are not wrong in the words you speak. Do not walk them back. It's okay to feel the way

not, so I settle for sending her my intense feelings of love and appreciation through

"Lucas is going to kill me," he mutters under

"He has no

alpha's mate,"

not his mate, Kellan. How many times do I have

exasperated. "Denial only goes

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 constantly

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

pour 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

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

my mind, her presence a comforting warmth. Stand up

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

surrender. "Fine, fine. I'm trusting you to

say firmly. "Because he knows I'm right. He

bond between us is undeniable, a living,