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.

see far too often these days, and he gives up arguing with Lisa to turn to me, instead. “With the

Blackwood…”

Lisa,” Interrupting him before he can continue is the best way. While I’m doing better at standing up for myself, I’m

13:43

Ava: Negotiating the Invitation

might be compared to

just that I can’t live like this forever, and things need to change. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ ꜰindNʘvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ

It’s worse than being home. At least I used to

agonized look bring that familiar feel

are not wrong in the

gratitude. But she’s not, so I settle for sending her my intense feelings of love and appreciation through our

a hand down his face. “Lucas is going to kill me,” he mutters

floods through me. “He has

13.43 –

Negotiating the Invitation

alpha’s mate,” Kellan sighs.

his mate, Kellan. How many

exasperated. “Denial only

Ava.”

“No. I’m sick of this. I’m sick of constantly being thought of as his mate instead of being treated

him.”

tied to a man, a bond I never asked for. 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 Clayton’s people had thought of me as his future

to be Ava. A me without any

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Negotiating the Invitation

Someone who isn’t judged by the standing of

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

me, straightening my spine. I meet Kellan’s gaze head–on, refusing

his hands in surrender. “Fine, fine. I’m trusting you to back me up

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

an awkward history. The bond between us is undeniable, a living, breathing thing, and I can’t underestimate it. Like that day at the

to let it define me. I refuse to let it

about myself when

Ava: Negotiating the