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."

words both warm my heart

always trying to

murmurs, The begrudging approval in her voice helps soothe that vague restless feeling inside

force myself to relax. It's Lucas. He's done so

the words come out before I

and you're

Shit.

for a few seconds, and

well tell him

and I are going to try talking to Mom's wolf. She might be more

The silence continues.

is strong enough

me with a grim note

can't. You have so much to

3/5

Leaving in this situation..."

you expect me to stay here and let

my ear, my eyes wide as Lucas' fury lashes through the speaker. What the hell? My heart races, confusion and shock warring inside

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

but anger flares

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

long have you been in 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 voice rises with each word, trembling with barely leashed emotions. This isn't about me, or my

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

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

no idea how hard it was to do

"You might

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

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

being blind to your situation.

like glass! I can handle myself." Even as I say

174

40

172 Ava Boding Point