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.

her eyes. “Good. Maybe you’ll take

and leave.”

turns, leaning back against the counter as he dries his hands on a dish towel. “Sorry, no

safety. I do. But having Kellan here 24/7 is driving me insane. I can’t even have a private

15:35 –

Ava: Her

need a babysitter,” I say, crossing

over my chest.

“After everything that’s happened, I beg to differ.”

anger and embarrassment. I know he’s right. I’ve

knowing it sounds petulant even as the words leave

softens. “I know you can, Ava. But let us help,

tears. Pack. The word feels foreign on my tongue these days. The Blackwood pack was never really mine, no matter how much I tried to

pack…

where I stand with them. With

him.

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

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Her New

that, and

I’d like, because despite having won the war of where I live… Kellan’s

here.

hours? Let us have our

of it.”

true, too. Having guards around at all times is not something I can get used to, and

used to it.

baleful gaze in Kellan’s

direction.

in unison. The sound is loud and long, dripping with all the frustration that’s been building up inside me for

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

15

A/T

Her New

of it.

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

sparkling with excitement. “Really?

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

I can feel her excitement thrumming through our bond,

share a high–five with Lisa, our palms connecting with a satisfying smack. We did it, I tell