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.

Maybe you’ll take the

and leave.”

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

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

15:35 –

Ava: Her New

don’t need a babysitter,” I say, crossing my arms.

over my chest.

that’s happened, I beg

embarrassment. I know he’s right. I’ve been kidnapped, attacked, and goddess knows what else in the span of a few short

can take care of myself,” I mutter, knowing it

you can, Ava. But let us help, okay? It’s what

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

pack…

I’m not really sure where I stand with

him.

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

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Ava: Her New Normal

avoiding anything more meaningful than that, and he

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

here.

few hours? Let us have our space? I can’t breathe without one of

of it.”

guards around at all times is not something I can

used to it.

her baleful

direction.

I groan in unison. The sound is loud and long, dripping

It’s everything. The bond with Lucas, the fact that my father

15

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Ava Her

All of it.

He pauses, his brow furrowing as he seems to wage some internal battle. Finally, he nods, as if coming to a decision. “I can give you tomorrow

eyes sparkling with excitement. “Really? You

nods again, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Really. But I mean it about staying put. No exceptions. Especially as Alpha Westwood is

thrumming through our bond, a warm pulse of energy that makes me

connecting with a satisfying smack. We did it, I tell