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."

my heart and send my

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

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

soft feel of Selene's fur beneath my hands, I force myself to relax. It's Lucas. He's done so much for me, and yet I'm the

thought in mind, the words

and

Shit.

phone goes dead for a few seconds, and I close

as well tell him

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

The silence continues.

strong enough to force

there Lucas interrupts me with a grim note in his

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

3/5

Leaving in this situation..."

and you expect me to stay here and let you

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

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

eyes, but anger

spine, gritting my teeth.

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?

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

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."

how hard it was to

"You might

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 best friend, especially if you won't

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

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

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172 Ava Boding Point