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.

I see far too

Blackwood…”

him before he can continue is the best way. While I’m doing better at standing up

13:43

Negotiating

compared

this forever, and things need to change. Sᴇaʀᴄh

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

and agonized look bring that familiar feel of guilt

You are not wrong in the words you

she’s not, so I

going to kill me,” he mutters

me. “He has no

13.43 –

Negotiating

mate,” Kellan

like sandpaper. “I’m not his

at me, exasperated. “Denial only goes so far,

Ava.”

not being clear. I clench my jaw, standing my ground. “No. I’m sick of this. I’m sick of constantly being thought

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 Clayton’s people had

want to be Ava.

13:43

Ava Negotiating the

judged by the

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

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

“Fine, fine. I’m trusting you to back me up when Lucas loses his mind

right. He knows I’m more

a living, breathing thing, and I can’t underestimate it. Like that day at the hospital, it

it define me. I refuse to let

myself when I lived

Negotiating