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."

warm my heart and send my hackles up.

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

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

of Selene's fur beneath my hands, I force myself to relax. It's Lucas. He's done so much

that thought in mind, the words come out

idea, and you're

Shit.

dead for a few seconds, and I

well

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

The silence continues.

strong enough to force

me with a grim note in

heart falters a little. "You can't. You have so much to

3/5

Leaving in this situation..."

bullshit again, and you expect me to stay here

the speaker. What the hell? My heart races, confusion and shock warring

you to grow 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

eyes, but anger flares hot on

teeth. "I'm not

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

17:42

12 Ava Boting Point

take care of it?

I had to speak to? Do you know how many bodies are Bile rises in

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 my voice

how hard it was

"You might

with your best interest in mind. You don't think about me, and the lack of respect absolutely blows my fucking mind,

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

your situation. It's too dangerous, Ava. I'm trying

myself." Even as I say the words, doubt coils in my stomach. Can I

174

40

172 Ava Boding Point