Tangled

117 Ava: Her New Normal

Living in Westwood becomes routine again quickly.

Training with Jericho starts again only two days after my return, and the grizzled old shifter doesn’t say a word about my long absence.

Lucas and I text every night, but I refuse to call him. The sound of his voice is going to make me regret things.

And Selene settles into our daily life as though she

were never gone.

The only downside?

Kellan.

I have yet to speak to Selene or Lisa about anything important, because the beta is always around. He sleeps on the couch every night, no matter how many protests Lisa and I hurl his way.

Even Lucas is on board with it. I thought utilizing his possessiveness would go my way; it didn’t.

He just said Kellan would be the one wolf he could trust to keep me safe.

15:35 C

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117 Ava: Her New Normal

Lisa’s worse off than I am; she spends a good chunk of her day glowering at the friendly beta.

I watch Kellan as he washes the dishes, his broad

shoulders filling out his t–shirt in a way that would be appealing if I wasn’t so annoyed by his constant

presence. Lisa mutters beside me, “It isn’t fair that my apartment’s been taken over.”

I sigh, the sound heavy with frustration. Selene huffs little woof of agreement from her spot on the floor.

“You know I can hear you two, right?” Kellan says without turning around, his voice tinged with

amusement.

eyes. “Good. Maybe you’ll take

and leave.”

warm. He turns, leaning back against the counter as he dries his hands on a

teeth. It’s not that I don’t appreciate Lucas’s concern for my safety. I do. But having Kellan here 24/7 is driving me insane. I can’t even have a private conversation

15:35 –

Her

a babysitter,” I say,

over my chest.

a brow. “After everything that’s happened, I beg to

I know he’s right. I’ve been kidnapped, attacked, and

knowing it sounds petulant even as the words leave my

you can, Ava. But let us help,

tongue these days. The Blackwood pack was never really

pack…

I’m not really sure where I stand with them.

him.

texting, but it’s superficial stuff. Jokes and memes, a quick question

3/7

Her

anything more meaningful than that, and he knows it. He’s letting me.

I’d like, because despite having won the war of

here.

us have our space? I

of it.”

not something I can get

used to it.

her baleful gaze in Kellan’s

direction.

his head, and both Lisa and I groan in unison. The sound is loud and long, dripping with all the frustration that’s been building up

constant surveillance, though that’s certainly part of it. It’s everything. The bond with Lucas, the fact that my father and Alpha Renard still haven’t been found, the

15

A/T

Ava Her

All of

it sticks up in unruly spikes. “Look, I get it. You two need some space. Some time to yourselves.” He pauses, his brow furrowing as he seems to wage some internal battle. Finally, he nods, as if coming to

instantly, her dark eyes sparkling

smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Really. But I mean it about staying put. No exceptions. Especially as Alpha Westwood is gone again.” He’s back in the Blackwood

excitement thrumming through our bond, a warm pulse of energy that makes me feel lighter than I have in days.

palms connecting with a satisfying