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

trying to calm me down, and for some reason that makes me

mate, Selene murmurs, The begrudging approval in her voice helps soothe that vague restless

know. I'm sorry." Focusing on the soft feel of Selene's fur beneath my hands, I force myself

thought in mind, the words come

have an idea, and you're going

Shit.

dead for a few seconds, and I close

as well

try talking to Mom's wolf. She

The silence continues.

enough to force

there Lucas interrupts me with a grim note in his

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

3/5

Leaving in this situation..."

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

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,

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

anger flares

gritting my teeth. "I'm not under

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?

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? Do you know how many bodies are Bile rises in my throat. "I thought we were safe on pack grounds.

cuts 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 secrets." Blinking away tears as rapidly as they fill my eyes, I

idea how hard it was

"You might

secrets, but you don't trust me to 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 fucking

from trying to help my best friend, especially if

blind to your situation. It's too

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

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172 Ava Boding Point