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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.”

Η

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.”

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11) Asa ng Pers

“I should be able to.”

It’s weird, the way his words both warm my heart and send my hackles up. “I’m not a child, Lucas.

“I never said you were, Ava.” Immediately into that soothing tone. He’s always trying to calm me down, and for some reason that makes me even more agitated.

He’s always going to be protective of his mate, Selene murmurs, The begrudging approval in her voice helps soothe that vague restless feeling inside of me.

“I know. I’m sorry.” Focusing on the 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 one holding secrets.

With that thought in mind, the words come out before I realize.

“I have an idea, and you’re going to hate it.”

Shit.

The phone goes dead for a few seconds, and I close my eyes.

May as well tell him now.

“Selene and I are going to try talking to Mom’s wolf. She might be more willing to give us any information we need.”

The silence continues.

“Selene is strong enough to force a-”

“I’m flying over there Lucas interrupts me with a grim note in his voice I’ve never heard before.

My heart falters a little. “You can’t. You have so much to do there.

3/5

Leaving in this situation…”

“My mate is trying to do crazy bullshit again, and you expect me to stay here and let you do it?”

Iyank the phone away 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, wait, let me explain. Selene is strong enough to-”

“It’s time for 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 after all?”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I physically recoil, curling in on myself. Selene growls low in her throat, hackles rising as she glares at the phone.

Tears prick at my eyes, but anger flares hot on their heels. I

straighten my spine, gritting my teeth. “I’m not under your control, Lucas.”

“Bullshit. You can’t keep yourself out of trouble for one goddamn second! How long have you been in Blackwood? And 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 Lisa, or have you forgotten about her?” My voice rises with each word, trembling with barely leashed emotions. This isn’t about me, or my safety. It’s about someone who’s already in danger. Someone in danger because of me. How am I supposed to sit here and wait for someone else to

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12 Ava Boting Point

take care of it?

“By ignoring your safety? How did that go 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 burning tonight? You’re not thinking straight.”

Bile rises in my throat. “I thought we were safe on pack grounds. I never would have asked if I knew…”

“You know now,” he 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’t you? You don’t trust me at all.”

“I don’t trust you? I told you my secrets.” Blinking away tears as rapidly as they fill my eyes, I struggle to keep my voice even. “You

have no idea how hard it was to do that.”

“You might trust me with 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 mind, Ava. I’ve done my best and bent over backward for you, to the detriment of my own pack. And now you’re going off with this hare–brained fucking scheme-“o

“You can’t stop me from trying to help my best friend, especially if you won’t even listen to me!”

“I am listening, but you’re being blind to your situation. It’s too dangerous, Ava. I’m trying to protect you!”

“I don’t need you to treat me like glass! I can handle myself.” Even as I say the words, doubt coils in my stomach. Can I really? I’ve

174

40

172 Ava Boding Point

never proven that.

The vampire didn’t kidnap me, but he got Lisa.

That’s not a win, no matter how you look at it.

Lucas scoffs, a harsh sound that crackles through the phone. “Right. Because your past has proven that you can take risks like this without something terrible happening to you. You don’t know how far their power reaches, and yet you’re going to jump in head first-”

His words are like a slap, stinging and brutal. I can’t breathe past the lump in my throat, hot tears spilling down my cheeks. A small, broken sound escapes me before I can stop it. “If all you’re going to do is yell at me, I’m hanging up.”

Selene nuzzles against my hand, her ears flat against her head.

“Ava, wait-”

I hit the button, cutting off his words. The phone tumbles from my numb fingers, bouncing on the bed. I wrap my arms around myself, hunching over as sobs wrack my body.

Selene whines, pressing close and nosing at my hands. He’s just worried, Ava. He let his fear control his words.

“He’s right though, isn’t he? I’m a walking disaster.” The words are bitter on my tongue, voiced on a shuddering exhale.

No. Selene’s voice is fierce in my mind. You’re not a disaster. Having powerful enemies does not mean you’re a disaster.

I want to believe her, but Lucas‘ accusations ring in my ears, insidious and haunting. Am I really so blind? So thoughtless in my

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172 Ave Dating Point

actions?

Vanessa sits beside me, tentatively resting a hand on my shoulder. “Ava? Are you okay?”

I shake my head, not trusting my voice. She sighs, rubbing soothing circles on my back. We sit in silence for a long moment, my sniffles the only sound in the room.

“He’s scared,” Vanessa finally says, quiet but certain. “He lashes out when he’s terrified of losing you.”

“That doesn’t make it okay,” I whisper, even as doubts run through my head.

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