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.

rolls her eyes. “Good. Maybe

and leave.”

deep and warm. He turns, leaning back against the counter as he dries his hands on a dish towel. “Sorry, no can do. Alpha’s orders.”

But having Kellan here 24/7 is driving me insane. I can’t even have a private conversation with Lisa or

15:35 –

Ava: Her

babysitter,” I

over my chest.

a brow. “After everything that’s

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

I mutter, knowing it sounds petulant even as

softens. “I know you can, Ava. But let us help, okay? It’s what pack

feels foreign on my tongue these days. The Blackwood pack was never really mine,

pack…

sure where I stand with them. With

him.

been texting, but it’s superficial stuff. Jokes and memes,

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Ava: Her New

more meaningful than that, and he knows

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

here.

you just leave for a few hours? Let us have our space? I can’t breathe without one of you watching me, and I’m

of it.”

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

used to it.

her baleful gaze

direction.

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

The bond with Lucas, the fact that my father and Alpha Renard still haven’t been found, the questions I have about my

15

A/T

Her New Normal

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

brightens instantly, her dark eyes sparkling with excitement. “Really? You mean

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

thumping against the floor in a steady rhythm. I can feel her excitement thrumming through our bond, a warm pulse of energy that makes me feel

share a high–five with Lisa, our palms connecting with a satisfying smack.