"Ava, I don't think this is a good idea." Lucas' voice is strained, and despite not knowing him well, I can imagine him pacing, his hands clenched in frustration.
"It doesn't matter, because I'm going." Thankful he can't see , I cringe a little at how childish I sound. Standing up to myself is new, and every ti I do, I feel like a rebellious teenager.
I never had a rebellious teenage stage, but I imagine this is how they sound. It reminds of Jessa's whining, anyway. She always complained that Mom and Dad were ruining her life with their strict rules and demands that she stop dating whatever boy was the flavor of her week, saying she needed to be mindful of her future mate pairing.
Obviously she'd grown out of it at so point. Maybe it's my turn to sound like one.
"Ava…"
"No." I cut him off before he can start his argunts. Much like Kellan, he likes to throw logical connections in there that confuse on how to respond without sounding like an irresponsible brat, and I don't like that. "I've been playing by your rules this entire ti, and I'm tired of it. You have guards on us. Kellan's around. He sleeps in our apartnt.
I have to beg for even an hour away from him. This life is unsustainable, and I refuse to live like this anymore. Either tell I'm your prisoner, or give so freedom."
While I'm not discounting my safety, I have a feeling that my family is nowhere near Westwood. The most logical thought process to have is that Alpha Renard would want to gain power to fight back, right? That's not going to happen in Westwood.
You must still be on guard, Selene whispers.
I know. But the danger isn't imminent.
Lucas sighs through the speaker, and I feel a little of the tension in my shoulders ease. He doesn't sound angry, just exhausted.
"I'm sorry, Ava. I never ant for you to feel like this."
The words it's fine want to co to my lips, but I can sense Lisa's dagger stare into the side of my face. Lucas is on speaker, in case I lose my nerve and need Lisa to step in.
When I glance at her, she mouths don't you DARE apologize, jabbing her finger between the phone and .
Kellan's in the kitchen, probably listening to every word as he organizes the food he had delivered. So pasta or sothing. It slls great.
"We just need to change things," I say instead of apologizing, hating how guilty that makes feel. Apologizing to smooth things over is how my entire life has worked.
"I'll make it work," he says, and so of my tension eases when I realize he isn't upset that I haven't apologized. "I want you to be happy, Ava."
Lisa looks smug as she gives a thumbs up.
I'm about to say I'm already happy, but shut my mouth before the words co out. I'm not happy. Yet another thing I need to unlearn; speaking untruths in hopes that it will help avoid bad feelings.
"I appreciate that," I say instead, rembering the phrases Lisa forced to morize a few days ago. All things to say in awkward monts instead of apologizing or downplaying my feelings. I appreciate that, I'm sorry you feel that way, I'll take that into consideration.
Lucas is silent for a few beats. "I miss you, Ava."
My heart skips when I hear the sadness in his words. Lisa arches her brows at , but I have no idea what she ans by the expression. "I miss you, too." It's true. I do. There's a huge part of that craves his proximity, that wants him to co back so we can be as close as physically possible. Even when I'm not thinking of him, there's a part of attuned to his existence, even far away.
A place in my chest that wants to be filled by our bond.
"Should I co back?" His overeager response has Lisa slapping both hands over her mouth, her eyes dancing.
"No. You have work to do." Also, if he's here, none of the shifters will see as anything other than his mate. I don't want that. I need to make progress with these wolves without him around.
It's funny how the sound of silence can change depending on the atmosphere.
I'm no longer tense, and there's even a faint smile curving my lips. Lisa's bouncing in place, no doubt ready to explode with things she wants to say.
"There's nothing more important to than you, Ava. Your happiness. Your smile. Everything about you."
Lisa's practically flailing, so I grab my phone and take it off speakerphone, giving her a stern look before fleeing to my room. She doesn't need to hear any more.
"You're the alpha, Lucas. You have responsibilities."
"I'd throw them all away for you." I can tell by the sound of his voice that he's smiling. "My wolf would love that."
Selene would not, but I don't need to tell him that. "I'm doing fine here. I'm getting stronger. Amara's great." Even though I'm not sure she likes very much. "Lisa's doing good, too. They say she's doing great for a human."
"That's great to hear." There's a creak, and I find myself wondering if he's in his office chair, swaying from side to side. That's kind of what it sounds like.
"Thank you for not fighting about the party, Lucas." I'm not sure if thanking him for doing what Lisa calls the right thing is what I should be doing, but it feels right.
Then again, as Lisa also says, my normal ter is broken. So maybe I shouldn't go off my feelings.
"You shouldn't be thanking , Ava," he says, sounding a little frustrated. There's an odd sound in the background, like a motor of so sort. "You need to tell what you're feeling. I know you don't like the guards, and I'm not going to compromise on that. But I want you to be happy. I'll do anything for you.
I'll prove that to you as many tis as you need."
What is this feeling in my belly? It's like butterflies and sothing more. Sothing beyond the bond.
"I know." So sort of anxious feeling flutters through , and I pace, grinning like a loon. "I an, I think I get it. It's going to take ti."
"Take as much ti as you need, angel. I'm here for the long haul." He grunts, and another weird sound cos through the phone.
It sounds wet.
"Lucas, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Just working and dropped sothing."
"Oh. You must be busy."
"Of course not. I'm never too busy for you. The entire world can wait while I answer your calls."
I think I know that feeling now.
It's excitent.
We're flirting, aren't we?
I think we are.
"Even if I call in the middle of the night?"
"Even then."
"What if I call while you're in a business eting?"
"Then, too."
"And when you're with another woman?"
"There's never another woman, Ava. Even if you believe nothing else, you should believe that."
The laugh that cos out of is soft and breathy. "Okay. I'll try to rember that."
"Are you… Ava, are you jealous? There are no female shifters anywhere around , I promise you."
"I'm not jealous. I don't know anyone to be jealous of." Maybe I should ask him more questions about himself. About his work. About his day.
He asks , every ti we're on the phone.
It occurs to that I've been demanding a lot from a man when I don't give him much in return.
Well, there was the day you were discharged, Selene mutters in my head, still upset we did it with her in the room, pretending to sleep.
Hush.
"You can be jealous. I'll just have to make it up to you whenever you are."
The way his voice drops low sends a thrill straight to all the womanly parts of that want his undivided attention. Sohow, this innocent flirtation has stepped over a line I didn't realize was there.
Abort, abort. Not experienced enough for this.
So I laugh awkwardly. "I think Kellan is done getting our dinner ready. I'll talk to you later, Lucas."
"I'll miss you every second we're apart, Ava."
Still with that husky voice.
"I'll miss you too." Sohow, I feel like sothing's switched inside of today. Like he's entered a little deeper into the heart I've kept guarded.
"Ava?"
"Yes?"
"When I get back, I'm going to hug you. And kiss you. And maybe a hell of a lot more. So prepare yourself."
"What if I say no?"
"Then I won't. But I don't think you will."
His arrogance should have upset. I feel like even a day ago, I would have been.
Instead, those butterflies in my belly ramp up their dancing. "We'll see."
"I like a challenge, Ava."
There's another odd sound, and sothing that sounds—I'm not sure. It sounds like noises a human or animal would make. "What are you doing, Lucas? I keep hearing weird things."
"Tying up loose ends. Go eat dinner, my love. Can I call you later tonight?"
I nod, even though he can't see . "I'll call you after my shower, instead."
"I'll hold you to it, angel."
Reviews
All reviews (0)