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.

sting at the beta’s pride. Kellan’s jaw sets in a way that I see far too often these days,

Blackwood…”

way. While I’m doing better at standing up for myself, I’m not great at arguing when they bring

13:43

Negotiating the

compared to

things need to change. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ

At least I used to have a

flinch and agonized look bring that familiar feel of guilt to my stomach.

Selene says, her voice in my mind soft and soothing. You are not wrong in the words you speak. Do not walk them back. It’s

her and hug her with gratitude. But she’s not, so I settle for sending

to kill

floods through me. “He has no reason

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Negotiating

the alpha’s mate,” Kellan

sandpaper. “I’m not his mate,

“Denial only goes

Ava.”

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

him.”

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 me like I’m fragile, like I’m someone’s possession. Even Clayton’s people

want to be Ava. A me without

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Negotiating

by the standing of

presence a comforting warmth. Stand

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

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

right. He knows I’m more than just his… whatever I

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, 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 that matters.

about myself when I

Ava: Negotiating the Invitation.