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.

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

Blackwood…”

better at standing up for myself, I’m not

13:43

Negotiating

be compared to

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

At least I used to have a job

look bring that familiar

the words you speak. Do

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

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

floods through me. “He has no

13.43 –

Negotiating

mate,” Kellan

sandpaper. “I’m not his mate, Kellan. How many times do I

looks at me, exasperated. “Denial only goes so

Ava.”

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. Not ‘Lucas’s mate. I’m more than

him.”

my pack, dictating my every move. Now, it’s Lucas and his pack, treating me like I’m fragile, like

be Ava. A me without any

13:43

Ava Negotiating

judged by the standing of another wolf.

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

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

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

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

a living, breathing thing, and I can’t underestimate it. Like that day at the hospital, it will throw me into his

refuse to let it be the only thing

little about myself when I lived

Ava: Negotiating the