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.

far too often these days,

Blackwood…”

best way. While I’m doing better at standing up for

13:43

Negotiating the Invitation

might be compared to my life.

live like this forever, and things need to change. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ ꜰindNʘvel.ɴet

hide me away forever. It’s worse than being home. At least I used to

and agonized look bring that familiar feel of

wrong in the words you speak. Do not walk them back. It’s okay to feel the way you do.

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

to kill me,” he mutters under

“He has

13.43 –

Ava: Negotiating

alpha’s mate,” Kellan sighs.

phrase grates against my nerves like sandpaper. “I’m not his mate, Kellan. How many times do I have to say

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

Ava.”

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 just

him.”

my pack, dictating my every move. Now, it’s Lucas

just want to be Ava. A

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Ava Negotiating the Invitation

isn’t judged by the standing of another wolf.

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

spine. I meet Kellan’s

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

knows I’m more than just his… whatever

stomach. Lucas and I 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. Like that day at the hospital, it will throw me into

me. I refuse to

about myself when I lived in

Ava: Negotiating the