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.

Kellan’s jaw sets in a way that I see far too often these

Blackwood…”

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

13:43

Negotiating the

might be compared to my

like this forever, and things need to change. Sᴇaʀᴄh

away forever. It’s worse than being home. At least I used to have a job and some freedom there.”

familiar feel of guilt to my

soothing. You are not wrong in the words you speak. Do not walk them back. It’s okay to

her and hug her with gratitude. But she’s not,

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

floods through me. “He has

13.43 –

Ava: Negotiating

the alpha’s mate,” Kellan sighs.

his mate, Kellan. How many times do I have to say it?”

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

Ava.”

as anything other than my supposed rank. The one they’ve already decided on, despite 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 just an

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 every move. Now, it’s Lucas and his pack, treating

to be Ava. A me without any other

13:43

Negotiating the Invitation

by the standing

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

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

I’m trusting you to back me up when Lucas loses his mind

I’m right. He knows I’m more

curls in my stomach. Lucas and I are complicated. We’re fated mates with an awkward history. The bond between us is undeniable, a living, breathing thing,

define me. I refuse

little about myself

Negotiating the