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

you were, Ava." Immediately into that soothing tone. He's always trying to calm me down, and for some reason that makes me

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

sorry." Focusing on the soft feel of Selene's fur beneath my hands, I force myself to relax. It's Lucas. He's done

thought in mind, the words come

and you're going

Shit.

a few seconds, and

as well tell him

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

The silence continues.

strong enough to force

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

falters a little. "You can't. You

3/5

Leaving in this situation..."

do crazy bullshit again, and you expect me to stay here and

my ear, my eyes wide as Lucas' fury lashes through the speaker. What the hell?

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

eyes, but anger flares hot on their

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

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 Lisa, or have you forgotten about her?"

17:42

12 Ava Boting Point

take care of it?

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?

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

how hard it was to

"You might

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 best friend, especially if you won't even listen to

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

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

174

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172 Ava Boding Point