Tangled

128 Ava: A Frank Discussion

“Flutters from here to here?” Lisa motions with her

hand, encompassing her entire abdomen up to just beneath her breasts.

I nod.

“And your face tingles from the sound of his voice?”

I nod again.

“Things sound sexual even when they’re not?”

I blush.

“Yes. You’ve officially moved into flirtation territory.” Lisa picks her burger up, taking a huge bite with a groan of appreciation. After swallowing, she points it in my general direction. “Congratulations. This is your first crush.” Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“Not my first crush,” I murmur. There had been a few kids in class… Kids who weren’t mean or cruel, and who didn’t laugh at me.

But they always ended up with other girls. We barely exchanged hellos, and I’d dreamed up scenarios between us. Of me leaving my pack to live a human

17:49

1/9

128 Ava: A Frank Discussion

life, of giving up my wolf heritage.

Silly daydreams.

“First real one, then,” she amends.

He’s trying, Selene admits, her begrudging tone making me laugh.

I’m not sure if she’ll ever approve of him.

ភ

+51

I take a bite of my burger, savoring the juicy flavor as I chew. The quiet peace of the apartment wraps around us, comforting and sweet. No hovering Kellan, no

constant surveillance… Just blessed solitude, broken only by the crinkling of wrappers and Lisa’s soft chewing across from me.

Kellan must have gotten orders from Lucas to give us more space. He dropped off our food earlier with barely a word before heading out to handle important beta duties. I’m not complaining. Having the apartment to ourselves is a rare luxury.

my thoughts. “So, what was up with that bizarre text you got yesterday?”

pause mid–chew, the reminder sending

17

A

unsettling. And then

slowly. “I don’t know.

last words Sister Miriam said to me.”

concern flashing across her face. “Okay, that’s creepy. Explain

a vampire, Selene murmurs

to light a candle and

it at

you about the candle.” Lisa bites her lip. “How concerned should we be?”

aside,

harm me.”

wouldn’t have sent a text message. Selene perks her head up from her spot on the couch. It sounds like she has information she wants to share

know if it’s a good idea to open that can of

But vampires are not

17:49

39

A Frank Discussion

to

relay Selene’s thoughts to Lisa, who pokes at her

you should try to reach out to

again? Get

but do you really think your luck is so bad that you’d be kidnapped again? There has to be a

what about dying?”

plate away. Unlike her, my appetite isn’t diminished by the contents of our conversation, so

and Kellan

watches me eat. “I know

going to be

are we going to

17:40

Ava: A Frank

possibly my powers that shouldn’t exist?” I shake my head. “No, I’m not ready for that.

feel.”

probably won’t

an unshifted wolf shifter is bad enough; all the stares and whispers get to me, no matter how much I try to shrug

looks unconvinced. “I don’t think that’s a great start to a long–term relationship. You should be able

my food as slowly as I possibly can. She stares, unblinking, in my direction,

eyes and swallow with a sigh. “Okay. Yes. It’s probably unhealthy. But, Lise, I still don’t know if this is going to work between us.”

arch. “Do you

“No.”

A

he hate you?”

“No.”

“Has he apologized?”

flash back to Cedarwood for a moment, a faint. smile twitching my lips. “But I’m not sure if you can call breaking and

know I love you. And you know I hate this

I don’t think pushing Lucas away is what’s best, either. You’re going to have