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."

warm my heart and

you were, Ava." Immediately into that soothing tone. He's always trying

be protective of his mate, Selene murmurs, The begrudging approval in her voice helps soothe that

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

in mind, the words come out before I

idea, and you're going to

Shit.

goes dead for a few seconds, and I close my

as well tell him

wolf. She might be more

The silence continues.

enough to force

a grim note in his voice I've never

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

3/5

Leaving in this situation..."

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

eyes wide as Lucas' fury lashes through the speaker. What the hell? My heart races, confusion and shock warring inside me. "Lucas, wait, let me

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

anger flares hot on their

gritting my teeth. "I'm not under your control,

lawn. You 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?

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

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."

no idea how hard it was to

"You might

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

stop me from trying to help my best friend, especially if you

situation. It's too dangerous, Ava.

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

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172 Ava Boding Point