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."

his words both warm my heart and send my hackles up. "I'm not a child,

never said you were, Ava." Immediately into that soothing tone. He's always trying to calm me down,

Selene murmurs, The begrudging approval in

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

mind, the words come out before I

have an idea, and

Shit.

goes dead for a few seconds, and

well tell him

talking to Mom's wolf. She might be more willing to give us any information we

The silence continues.

enough to force

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

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

3/5

Leaving in this situation..."

again, and you expect me to stay here

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

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 throat, hackles

prick at my eyes, but anger flares

gritting my teeth.

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

17:42

12 Ava Boting Point

take care of it?

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 if I

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?

hard it was

"You might

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 respect absolutely blows my

my best friend, especially if you won't even

but you're being blind to your situation. It's too dangerous,

handle myself." Even

174

40

172 Ava Boding Point