Tangled

172

172

172 Ava: Boiling Point

The jarring melody blares out of my phone, startling me nearly out. of my skin.

Selene's ears flick as I grab it, seeing Lucas' name flash across the screen. Both butterflies and dread swim through me; butterflies, because it's Lucas.

Dread, because I'm hiding things from him again.

"Hello?"

"I miss you."

H

His greeting is so him, and my lips curl up immediately. "I miss you,

too."

"Are you okay? Hurt anywhere?"

Of course, he knows about the riot. "I'm fine. Not hurt at all. Everyone kept me safe."

When he sighs, I can imagine his face, how his brows furrow as he inspects me. "I wish you hadn't come outside."

"I held my own, though, didn't I?" There's a little pride in my voice over that.

"So I hear. It would have been better if you weren't in danger, though."

Vanessa's stopped pacing to stare out the window, still in thought. Selene flops into my lap, and I scratch behind her ears absently. "You can't shelter me from everything."

17:42

11) Asa ng Pers

"I should be able to."

way his words both warm my heart and send my hackles up. "I'm not a

never said you were, Ava." Immediately into that soothing tone. He's always trying to

mate, Selene murmurs, The begrudging approval in her voice helps soothe that vague restless

feel of Selene's fur beneath my hands, I force myself to relax. It's

that thought in mind, the words come out

idea, and

Shit.

dead for a few seconds, and I close my

well tell him

She might be more willing to give us any information

The silence continues.

is strong enough to

flying over there Lucas interrupts me with a grim

heart falters a little. "You can't.

3/5

Leaving in this situation..."

and you expect me to stay here and let you do

the speaker. What the hell? My heart races, confusion and

like this. I've given in to you too many times. What are you going to do when Alpha Renard realizes you aren't defective af His words hit me like a

eyes, but anger flares

my spine, gritting my teeth. "I'm not

in Blackwood? And there's already a riot on your front lawn. You need to be safe, not taking unnecessary risks "That's not fair! I'm trying to help Lisa, or have you forgotten about her?" My voice rises with each word, trembling with barely leashed emotions.

17:42

12 Ava Boting Point

take care of it?

pack lands, Ava. Do you know how many families I had to speak to? Do you know how many bodies are Bile rises in my throat. "I thought we were safe on

making in trying to get Lisa back, even when she isn't my pack. But you have to throw all my efforts. in my face, don "I don't trust you? I told you my secrets." Blinking away

hard it was to do

"You might

best interest in mind. You don't think about me, and the lack of respect absolutely blows my fucking mind, Ava. I' brained

my best friend,

your situation.

handle myself." Even as I say the words, doubt coils in my stomach. Can

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172 Ava Boding Point