Tangled

125 Ava: Negotiating the Invitation

125 Ava: Negotiating the Invit tion

The ominous text halts me in place, and Lisa peers over my shoulder.

“A candle?” she asks, confused.

Oh, right–I haven’t spoken to her yet about my revelation of Sister Miriam’s words at our parting. Only

Selene knows.

Catching Lisa’s eye, I give a quick shake of my head and slide the phone into my pocket. Kellan’s in the distance, walking toward us.

Lisa, as quick–thinking as ever, grabs onto my arm again and returns to her ruminations about the party. By the time the beta’s near us, his face is

thunderclouds and lightning.

“No way,” he announces, before Lisa can even say anything.

Undeterred, Lisa stands straight, toe–to–toe with him in a way I see far too often. These two will never get along. “I’m not asking, Beta Ashbourne. I’m informing you. Friday will be busy. We’re going to a party.”

125 Ava: Negotiating the Invitation.

“Absolutely not.”

“Stop treating us like prisoners!”

“You aren’t prisoners,” he refutes immediately. “We’re doing our best to keep you safe. A party? That’s not safe.”

“That’s not safe,” she mimics, rolling her eyes. “So, what, we’re going to be stuck in my apartment forever? We can’t live at all? Can’t do anything? Because to me, it sounds like you’re saying Westwood is a bunch of weak–ass wolves who can’t protect two little girls in their own territory.”

She’s a spitfire, Selene approves, back in my head again. Her marathon must be over.

sting at the beta’s pride. Kellan’s jaw sets in a way that I see far too often these days, and he gives up arguing with Lisa to turn to me, instead. “With the

Blackwood…”

the best way. While I’m doing better at standing up for myself, I’m not great at arguing when

13:43

Ava: Negotiating the

be compared to my

disagree. It’s just that I can’t live like this forever, and things need to change.

me away forever. It’s worse than being home. At

that familiar feel of guilt to my stomach.

soothing. You are not wrong in the words you speak. Do not walk

she were with me, I would pet her and hug her with gratitude. But she’s not, so I settle for sending her my intense feelings of love and appreciation through our bond.

going to kill

“He has

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Ava: Negotiating the

mate,” Kellan sighs.

not his mate, Kellan. How many times do I have to say

“Denial only

Ava.”

anything other than my supposed rank. The one they’ve already decided on, despite my own feelings not being clear. I clench my jaw, standing my ground. “No. I’m sick of this. I’m sick of constantly being thought of as his mate instead of being treated like a person. My name is Ava.

him.”

First, it was my father and my pack, dictating my every move. Now, it’s Lucas and his pack, treating me like I’m fragile, like I’m someone’s possession. Even

just want to be Ava.

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Ava Negotiating the Invitation

by the standing of another wolf.

mind, her presence a comforting warmth. Stand up for yourself.

I meet Kellan’s gaze head–on, refusing to back down.

fine. I’m trusting you to back me up when Lucas loses

firmly. “Because he knows I’m right. He knows I’m more than just his… whatever I

an awkward history. The bond between us is undeniable, a living, breathing thing, and

define me. I refuse to let it be

learned a little about myself when

Ava: Negotiating the