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."

the way his words both warm my heart and send my hackles up. "I'm not

tone. He's always trying

of his mate, Selene murmurs, The begrudging approval in

Focusing on the soft feel of Selene's fur beneath my hands, I force myself to relax. It's Lucas. He's done so much for me, and yet I'm the one holding

thought in mind, the words come out

have an idea, and you're

Shit.

few seconds, and I close

as well tell him

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

The silence continues.

strong enough to

with a grim

little. "You can't. You

3/5

Leaving in this situation..."

again, and you expect me to stay here

Lucas' fury lashes through the speaker. What the hell? My heart races, confusion and shock warring

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 throat, hackles rising as she

anger flares hot on

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

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

17:42

12 Ava Boting Point

take care of it?

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

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." Blinking away tears as rapidly as they fill

how hard it was to do

"You might

doing things with your best interest in mind. You don't think about me, and the lack

from trying to help my best friend,

you're being blind to your situation. It's

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

174

40

172 Ava Boding Point