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.

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

protective of his mate, Selene murmurs, The begrudging approval in her voice helps

on the soft feel of Selene's fur beneath my hands, I force myself to

the words

have an idea, and you're going

Shit.

dead for a few seconds, and I close

well tell

try talking to Mom's wolf. She

The silence continues.

strong enough to

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

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

3/5

Leaving in this situation..."

crazy bullshit again, and you expect me to stay

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 me explain. Selene is

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,

my eyes, but anger flares hot on their

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

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

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

in harshly. "You know now. 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

idea how hard it was

"You might

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

can't stop me from trying to help my best friend, especially if you won't even listen

you're being blind to your situation. It's too dangerous, Ava. I'm trying

don't need you to treat me like glass! I can handle myself." Even as I say the words, doubt coils in my stomach. Can I really?

174

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172 Ava Boding Point