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.

word is, of course, calculated to 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.

Blackwood…”

I’m doing better at standing up for myself, I’m not great

13:43

Ava: Negotiating the

compared

forever, and things need to change. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ ꜰindNʘvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of

At least I used to have a

and agonized look bring that familiar feel

my mind soft and soothing. You are not wrong in the words

she’s not, so I settle for sending her my intense feelings of

“Lucas is going to kill me,” he mutters under his breath, but I catch it anyway.

through me. “He

13.43 –

Ava: Negotiating

alpha’s mate,”

“I’m not his mate, Kellan. How many times do I have to say it?”

at me, exasperated. “Denial only

Ava.”

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. Not ‘Lucas’s mate.

him.”

I never asked for. First, it was my father and my pack, dictating my every move. Now, it’s Lucas and

to be Ava. A

13:43

Ava Negotiating the Invitation

Someone who isn’t judged by the standing of another

my mind, her presence a comforting

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

hands in surrender. “Fine, fine. I’m trusting you to

“Because he knows I’m right. He knows I’m

are 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.

not going to let it define me. I refuse to let

about myself

Negotiating the