Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 172 Ava: Boiling Point

The jarring melody blares out of my phone, startling me nearly out of my skin.

Selene's ears flick as I grab it, seeing Lucas' name flash across the screen. Both butterflies and dread swim through me; butterflies, because it's Lucas.

Dread, because I'm hiding things from him again.

"Hello?"

"I miss you."

His greeting is so him, and my lips curl up immediately. "I miss you, too."

"Are you okay? Hurt anywhere?"

Of course, he knows about the riot. "I'm fine. Not hurt at all. Everyone kept me safe."

When he sighs, I can imagine his face, how his brows furrow as he inspects me. "I wish you hadn't come outside."

"I held my own, though, didn't I?" There's a little pride in my voice over that.

"So I hear. It would have been better if you weren't in danger, though."

Vanessa's stopped pacing to stare out the window, still in thought. Selene flops into my lap, and I scratch behind her ears absently. "You can't shelter me from everything."

"I should be able to."

It's weird, the way his words both warm my heart and send my hackles up. "I'm not a child, Lucas."

"I never said you were, Ava." Immediately into that soothing tone. He's always trying to calm me down, and for some reason that makes me even more agitated.

mate, Selene murmurs. The begrudging approval in her voice helps

I'm sorry." Focusing on the soft feel of Selene's fur beneath my hands, I force myself to relax. It's Lucas. He's done so much for me, and yet I'm the one holding

mind, the words come out before

idea, and you're going to hate

Shit.

few seconds, and I close

well

talking to Mom's wolf. She might be more willing to give us

The silence continues.

is strong enough

a grim note in his

little. "You can't. You have so much to do there. Leaving

and you expect me to stay here and let you do

fury lashes through the speaker. What the hell?

wait, let me explain. Selene is strong enough

danger to be doing anything like this. I've given in to you too many times. What are you going to do when

in

heels. I straighten my spine,

in Blackwood? And there's already a riot on your front

barely leashed emotions. This isn't about me, or my safety. It's about someone who's already in danger. Someone in danger

lands, Ava. Do you know how many families I had to speak to?

in my throat. "I thought we were safe on pack grounds.

now," he cuts in harshly. "You know now. And you're aware of how much effort I'm making in trying to get Lisa back, even when she isn't my pack. But you have to throw all my efforts in my face, don't you? You don't

away tears as rapidly as they fill my eyes, I struggle to keep my voice even. "You have no idea how hard it was to

best interest in mind. You don't think about me, and the lack of respect absolutely blows my fucking

from trying to help my best friend, especially if

being blind to your situation. It's too