Tangled

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173 Ava: Hard Truths

Vanessa sighs, her hand warm and gentle against my back, rubbing in soothing circles. "Ava, understand that you can be wrong, even when you're right. Or right, even when you're wrong." A laugh bubbles up, hysterical and wild. "That makes no sense."

"You chafe under his protection. You feel caged, right?"

A quick nod. Of course. That much is obvious.

"It's okay to feel that way. It's normal, even. But is Lucas wrong to keep your safety in consideration?"

Selene sighs, bumping her head against my legs, and I tug at one of her ears. "No, of course not."

"The party was a terrible misfortune. None of us expected a

vampire attack on pack lands. For something like this to happen..." Her words trail off, and she glances away. "I don't even know how long it's been. We knew Blackwood was working with the Unregistered in some way, but to have this level of alliance is unheard of."

Hunching my shoulders, I mutter, "I never would have gone, if I'd known."

"I know." The gentle rubbing never ceases. "And Lucas didn't blame you. He doesn't blame you. He blames himself."

"But he didn't do anything wrong. It was me." Guilt gnaws at me. "I was the one who bothered him about the guards. About my freedom. I pushed to go to the party. Everything was because of

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173 Ava: Hard Truths

1. me. The vampire wanted me, and now Lisa's gone."

Resting my forehead on my knees, I whisper, "I'm a plague to

everyone who cares about me. So many people are dead, and even Lisa..."

"A defeatist attitude isn't going to help you, Ava." The back rubs stop as Vanessa gets off the bed, her voice firming. "The time for wallowing is long past. You've grown stronger, and you're no longer the flinching massacre happened. Neither you or Lucas knew it would happen. It's a terrible and unfortunate situation."

"But it's my fault. What am I supposed to do?" Turning my head so my cheek is against my knees, I watch Vanessa as she stands in front of me. "It's my fault. I should have just sat at home and kept my mouths danger..."

Vanessa stares at me, one brow raised, as my words trail off.

can tell in her

me captive, demanding an answer I'm not sure I

two choices in life? To go to the party without guards, risking everything for a taste of freedom, or to stay locked away in your apartment, watched at all times like a p I remain silent, my tongue leaden

so silly when she lays it

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173 Ava: Hard Truths

No

rattle around in my skull, colliding with the unyielding walls of my stubborn resolve. I want to argue, to

brushes against me, a reminder of

how I'm moping, I do my best to meet

of the few supports in my world. So I take a deep breath and think, letting her words soak

sounds pathetic, even to my

black and white, Ava. It's a tapestry woven with countless shades of gray. Do you believe everything is so

easily, a truth I've

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123 Ava Hard Truths

considering the possibilities that lie between?" Her question hangs in the air, a challenge I can't ignore. I close my eyes, searching for

believe I have no choice, that I'm backed into

could have made, if only I'd been willing to look beyond my

determined to prove my independence

prove that I could make my own choices, that I'm r Vanessa grabs my hand

insists, with the softest whine. You are much stronger

strong," Vanessa echoes. "But that doesn't mean

That doesn't mean

on v

123 Ae Yard Trich

And it doesn't

for freedom, for

avoided." A flicker of sadness crosses her face. "Our alpha will always c of those

Like me.

Only thinking of Lisa.

have been more careful,

"What do you think you should have done?" My

how my words are causing you to feel. Not on how to fix it,

my hand gently as my phone

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