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

always trying to calm me down, and for some reason that makes me

always going to be protective of his mate, Selene murmurs, The begrudging approval in her voice helps

hands, I force myself to relax. It's Lucas. He's done so much for me,

in mind, the

and you're going to hate

Shit.

dead for a few seconds, and I close

as well tell him

Mom's wolf. She might be more willing to give us any information

The silence continues.

is strong enough

there Lucas interrupts me with a grim note in his voice

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

3/5

Leaving in this situation..."

trying to do crazy bullshit again, and you expect me to stay here

my ear, my eyes wide as Lucas' fury lashes through the speaker. What the hell? My heart

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,

prick at my eyes, but anger flares hot

teeth. "I'm not under your control,

need 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?

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

harshly. "You know now. And you're aware of how much 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, don "I don't trust you? I told you my secrets." Blinking away tears as rapidly as they fill my eyes, I struggle to keep my voice

how hard it was to do

"You might

with your best interest in mind. You don't think about me, and

trying to help my best friend, especially if you

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

can handle myself." Even

174

40

172 Ava Boding Point