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."

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

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

to be protective of his mate, Selene murmurs, The begrudging approval in her voice helps soothe that vague restless feeling inside of

fur beneath my hands, I force myself to relax.

in mind, the

and you're going to

Shit.

a few seconds, and I close

as well

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

The silence continues.

is strong enough to

Lucas interrupts me with a grim note

can't. You

3/5

Leaving in this situation..."

is trying to do crazy bullshit again, and you expect me to

through the speaker. What the hell? My heart races, confusion and shock warring inside me. "Lucas, wait,

up 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.

but anger flares hot on

teeth. "I'm not

can't keep yourself out of trouble for one goddamn second! How 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

17:42

12 Ava Boting Point

take care of it?

know how many families I had to speak to? Do you know how many bodies are Bile rises in my throat.

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 my eyes, I struggle to keep

no idea how hard it was to

"You might

things with your best interest in mind. You don't think

best friend, especially

blind to your situation. It's too

to treat me like glass! I can handle myself." Even as I

174

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172 Ava Boding Point