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.

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

Blackwood…”

way. While I’m doing better at standing up for myself, I’m not great at arguing when they bring up good

13:43

Negotiating

might be compared to my life.

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

than being home. At least I used to have

agonized look bring that familiar feel of guilt to my

in the words you speak. Do not walk them

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

groans, running a hand down his face. “Lucas is going to kill

me. “He has no reason to.”

13.43 –

Negotiating the

the alpha’s mate,” Kellan

his mate, Kellan. How many times do I have

“Denial only goes

Ava.”

clench my jaw, standing my ground. “No. I’m sick of this. I’m sick of constantly

him.”

heated and sharp. I’m so tired of my identity being tied to a man, a bond I never asked for. First, it was my father and my pack, dictating my

just want to be Ava. A me without

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Negotiating

who isn’t judged by the standing

mind, her presence a comforting warmth.

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

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

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

complicated. We’re fated mates with an awkward history. The bond between us is undeniable, a living, breathing thing, and I can’t underestimate it. Like that

let it define me. I refuse to let it be the

myself when

Ava: Negotiating the