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."

his words both warm my heart and send my hackles up. "I'm

said you were, Ava." Immediately into that soothing tone. He's always trying to calm me down, and

The begrudging approval in her

Selene's fur beneath my hands, I force myself to relax. It's Lucas. He's done so much for me, and yet I'm the one

that thought in mind, the words

have an idea, and you're going

Shit.

for a few seconds, and I close

well

are going to try talking to Mom's wolf. She might be more willing to give us any information we

The silence continues.

strong enough

Lucas interrupts me with a grim note in his voice

falters a little. "You can't. You

3/5

Leaving in this situation..."

is trying to do crazy bullshit again, and you expect me to

through the speaker. What the hell? My heart races, confusion and shock warring inside me. "Lucas,

time for you 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

my eyes, but anger flares hot

my teeth. "I'm not

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

17:42

12 Ava Boting Point

take care of it?

did that go for you? I 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?

effort I'm 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,

how hard

"You might

Or that I'm doing things with your best interest in mind. You don't think about me, and the lack of respect absolutely blows my fucking mind, Ava. I' brained

trying to help my best friend, especially if you won't even listen

you're being blind to your situation. It's too

Even as

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172 Ava Boding Point