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 and send my hackles up. "I'm not a

Immediately into that soothing tone. He's always trying to calm me down, and for some reason that makes

be protective of his mate, Selene murmurs, The begrudging

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

the words come out before I

and you're going

Shit.

few seconds, and I

well tell

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

The silence continues.

is strong enough to force

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

little. "You can't. You have so much to

3/5

Leaving in this situation..."

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

through the speaker. What the hell? My heart races, confusion and shock warring

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

at my eyes, but anger flares

my spine, gritting my teeth. "I'm

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!

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

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

hard it was to

"You might

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

best friend, especially if you won't even

situation. It's too dangerous, Ava.

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

174

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172 Ava Boding Point