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."

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

into that soothing tone. He's always trying to calm

murmurs, The begrudging approval

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

mind, the words come out before I

an idea, and

Shit.

goes dead for a few seconds, and I

as well tell

She might be more willing to give us any

The silence continues.

enough to force

with a grim note in

heart falters a little. "You can't. You have so

3/5

Leaving in this situation..."

you expect me to stay here and let you

the hell? My heart races, confusion and shock warring inside me. "Lucas, wait, let

to grow up and realize you're in too much danger to be doing anything 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 punch to the gut, and I physically recoil, curling in on myself. Selene growls low in her throat, hackles

anger

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

to be safe, not taking unnecessary risks "That's not fair! I'm trying to help Lisa, or have

17:42

12 Ava Boting Point

take care of it?

gave in to you and there was an entire massacre on pack lands, Ava. Do you know how many families I had to speak to? Do you know how many bodies are Bile rises

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 tears as rapidly as they fill my eyes, I

no idea how hard it

"You might

with secrets, but you don't trust me to bring Lisa back. Or that I'm doing things with your best interest in mind. You don't think about me, and the lack of

trying to help my best friend, especially if

blind to your situation. It's too dangerous, Ava. I'm trying to

need you to treat me like glass! I can handle myself." Even as I say the words, doubt coils

174

40

172 Ava Boding Point