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

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

going to be protective of his mate, Selene murmurs, The begrudging approval

I force myself

thought in mind, the words come out

an idea, and

Shit.

a few seconds, and I close my

well

try talking to Mom's wolf. She might be more willing to give

The silence continues.

strong enough to

me with a grim note in his voice I've never heard

"You can't. You

3/5

Leaving in this situation..."

bullshit again, and you expect me to stay here and let you

fury lashes through the speaker. What the hell? My heart races, confusion and shock warring inside me. "Lucas, wait, let me explain. Selene

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,

my eyes, but anger

gritting my teeth. "I'm

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

17:42

12 Ava Boting Point

take care of it?

ignoring your safety? How 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? Do you know how many bodies are Bile rises in my throat. "I thought we were safe on pack grounds.

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 was

"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 respect absolutely blows

me from trying to help my best friend, especially if

situation. It's

like glass! I can handle myself." Even as I say the words, doubt coils in my

174

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172 Ava Boding Point