Tangled

Unshift 250

Unshift 250

250 Ava: Clear Her Mind

Stern expression. Narrow eyes. Tight lips.

He thinks I'm about to do something reckless.

My mouth is covered, so I close my eyes and breathe through my nose, drawing oxygen into my lungs and stretching them as far as I can bear, before releasing it all in a single measured breath. One. Two. Three. I count each inhale and exhale, willing my racing pulse to slow.

When I open my eyes again, I meet Marcus' gaze. His hand drops from my mouth as he takes a step back, giving me space.

It helps me feel less trapped by the panic fluttering in my heart.

"I'm listening," I say, my voice steadier than I feel inside. "What do I need to know?"

Marcus holds up my phone, tapping the screen as he stares at me. "First, we can't trust random phone calls. Anyone could be on the other end of that line, Ava. It could be a trap."

I bite my lip. "But what if it's not? What if Lucas and the pack really are in danger? We can't reach them-doesn't it lead credence to what she was saying?"

"Then rushing in blindly won't help them," Marcus counters. His tone softens slightly. "I know you're worried. But we need to be smart about this. You can't run off half-cocked. That's how you get kidnapped-"I wince. "-or worse."

Okay. Of course he's right.

Everything I do is on impulse and instinct, and I don't have a track record of stellar

decision-making.

So I take another deep breath, ignoring how small I feel when I realize how much I'm still lacking. Being upset over good advice is childish.

Forcing myself to think logically, I take a moment to mull it over.

Of course I can just ask Marcus what to do, but there's a reason he isn't throwing orders at me.

my job, as

Ava. Strange phone call, vague statements, and

Wait.

It shouldn't have gotten through to us. It can't

realized how

we're in a classroom, and I'm responding to a teacher's

it

me by name, yet she has my

by name or call me

Clear Her

his

strange," he

back. "She said I can't trust

Another nod.

is at Blackwood. "Maybe she's Blackwood? No. Wait. Any Blackwood wolf would know my name." And very

"Exactly."

back straightening and

that strikes you from

"No, she said Alpha. If she's Blackwood,

Ah.

weird on my tongue, almost naked. But it does make him feel

you question?" Marcus probes, clearly

I shake my head.

need to return. That

head. "I

Mc.

would they need

weak; barely

are a secret, and even then, they're

why would anyone need me