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."

my heart and send my hackles

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

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

force myself to relax. It's Lucas. He's done so much for me, and yet I'm the one holding

in mind, the

an idea, and

Shit.

dead for a few seconds, and I

as well tell him

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

The silence continues.

is strong enough to

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

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

3/5

Leaving in this situation..."

you expect me to stay here and let you

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

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 her

anger flares

teeth. "I'm not under your

a riot on your front lawn. You need to be safe, not taking unnecessary risks "That's not fair! I'm trying

17:42

12 Ava Boting Point

take care of it?

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. I never would have asked

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."

how hard it was

"You might

me to bring Lisa back. Or that I'm doing things with your best interest in mind. You don't think about me, and

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

being blind to your situation. It's

like glass! I can handle myself." Even

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172 Ava Boding Point