Tangled
180

180 Ava: Alerted

Sister Miriam is gone as quickly as she appears, just as my

bedroom door slams open.

"Miss Grey, are you all right?" The two guards outside my door are more familiar to me. I think they used to guard me at Lisa's

apartment, as well.

Their eyes flick to the two crumpled forms of my guards, and their noses flare at the scent of cigarettes. "We heard two thuds. What happened?"

Their words startle me out of my confusion. "Two thuds? Right

now?"

"Yes, just now. What happened?"

The two fallen guards stir on the floor, groaning and grunting as they push themselves to standing. The tall one grabs his head with a curse. "Shit, that fucking hurts."

That dhampir was here too long for them to only come in now, Selene says, grim concern darkening her words.

But it seems impossible. Did time pass slower when she was here?

Selene pads in silence to the guards slowly getting off the floor, sniffing at the head of the taller one. He swats her away, but she avoids his hand easily, wandering around the room to take whiffs

of air.

It's like she was never here, Selene marvels in confusion. T makes no sense.

180 Ave Aborted

"How the fuck are you two on the ground?" one of the new men snarls, pulling them to their feet with a harsh yank. "If Alpha hears about this-"

The one, Tall Asshole, snorts, swaying as he unfolds himself, still holding gingerly to the spot where the pointed tip of Sister Miriam's heels had stabbed with her kick. "Feels like someone hit me with a fucking b over his chest. "My cigarette! Fuck, where did it go?"

All four guards search the room frantically for the missing cigarette, their gazes sweeping every corner and crevice. The tall one even checks his pockets again, as if the

cigarette might have magically reappeared. Their confusion is palpable.

Cigarettes don't just go missing.

I perch on the

edge of the bed, my fingers gripping the soft comforter as I observe their futile efforts. Selene sits beside me, her presence a solid warmth against my leg. Her eyes, sharp and knowing, follow the guards' mover They didn't even ask if you were okay, Selene points out, her voice. tinged with disapproval. Some guards they are.

I sigh. It's to be expected. After the massacre, I can't blame them. We both know what they've seen out of me these past few days.

A child, demanding to be allowed to go out without guards.

Then a Luna missing from the scene, caring only for her own friend.

To them, I have no concern for this pack.

27

Paternicern fin their alpha

Ain't about being their charge; it n't about my safety. To them. Im not worthy

orthy of the care Lucas bestows upon me

A filthy Blackwood, just like the rest of them.

Until I can prove otherwise, I can't fight against their disregard.

selene huffs, her tail thumping against the bed in agitation. Their personal feelings shouldn't affect their job. They're supposed to protect you, not ignore you. They're not even worried about how they ended up second. Well, vampires are well-versed in mental muddling. They're probably not thinking straight.

I nod, acknowledging the validity of her argument. She's right, of course. The guards' primary responsibility is to ensure my safety, regardless of their opinions or the circumstances that brought us here. But as I

my agreement.

I know, I tell Selene, my fingers replaceing comfort in the soft fur behind her ears. But I don't want to cause a stir. I've done nothing to gain their respect, and everything to lose it.

Being upset over their feelings doesn't help me move forward.

This is a situation of my own creation.

At least I can see it now, even if I don't know how to fix it. How to change things.

There's always the truth-a great way to start.

180 Ava: Alerted

And if Kellan were here...

I don't trust these wolves, Selene mutters.

But then my heart constricts. These wolves, these ones I don't trust, who I've even acknowledged as having reason not to trust or respect me they're my pack. The pack I've chosen.

So, shouldn't I speak up?

"You won't replace it," I tell them, as politely as I can manage.

The two who were knocked unconscious for a brief-yet-

long time don't bother to acknowledge my words. The new guards, the ones from outside the door, glance at each other, nod after a second, and then stop looking.

They stand in front of me instead. "What happened?" the one on the right says, and I focus on him. His eyes are a dark, muddy kind of blue-

hazel, and his face is kind, even if suspicion has his brows drawn together and his stance somewhat standoffish.

"A vampire appeared. Right there." I point in the general direction Sister Miriam had stood. "She kicked him," and my finger moves to the taller one, who scowls, "in the head. Probably because she didn't like his

"And why would a vampire come see you, Blackwood bitch?" Sister Miriam's victim snaps, even as his hand touches the undoubtedly sore spot on his head once again. "Cooking up another fucking bloodbath w "Enough, Alex." Muddy-Blue Eyes admonishes him without even

180. Ava Alertet!

glancing in his direction, studying me closely. "What was her intention?"

His words are clipped and terse, but not accusing.

My shoulders relax; I hadn't even realized I was so tense.

"She left me with a message for Lucas. For the alpha," I correct

myself swiftly. "She said he shouldn't take so long for the rites next

time."

All four of them are quiet after that, looking at each other with

confusion written all over their faces.

"They can't be-turning wouldn't take so long, would it?" Tall-asshole shifter mutters, as the other two look unfocused, presumably reporting to...

Actually, I don't know who. Do they talk to Lucas directly? Or Kellan? Or someone else?

I hope it's someone else; I don't want Lucas or Kellan distracted during their hunt.

Damn, maybe I should have kept quiet a little longer. But I've turned over this new leaf of honesty and sharing and relying on allies, and it felt weird to say nothing while they were all looking for a cigarette that is

"I wondered the same thing, but she told me it is," and I raise my hands in the air, curving my fingers as I quote her, "far worse than I'm thinking. 'I don't khow what that means, though."

"Fucking bloodsuckers." Tall Asshole's friend throws me an uneasy

100 Ava Aleted

look, both suspicious and holding a good amount of self-preservative worry. "Did she say anything else?"

Not sure if I should reveal anything about the Mad Prince to them, I shake my head. Once Kellan or Lucas get here, I can explain the

rest of it.

Muddy-Blue Eyes loses the unfocused stare, scowling at the two guards who'd fallen before Sister Miriam's appearance. "Alex, Jason, you're dismissed. Report to the Beta-

Mentor. He's furious, so be prepared to run five miles. Twenty laps around the track might even wake you idiots up. How do you let a vampire into your Alpha's room? You'll be lucky to have a pack when the Alp Both of them look startled, and even protest, but Muddy-

Blue's partner backs him up with a snarl. "Regardless of how you feel about her, she's our future Luna. You're a failure if you can't see the priorities in front of your fucking nose."

"She's a Blackwood-" Alex protests, his face red and fists clenched

at his side.

"Alpha rejected her-"Jason follows up, not as upset as Alex but still with the air of someone being unfairly punished.

Muddy Blue Eyes cuts them off, his words rumbling

with authority. "If Alpha had rejected her, would he be bending over backward for her every time we turn around? Think with your fucking heads, you idiots. You two are so hot for Mia's ass, you can't even think with the two brain cells you have. Get the fuck out of here."