Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 91 Ava: Clearing the Air (I)

All my thoughts circle into some sort of insane melodrama right out of Selene's favorite TV show, and I slap my hands against my face, rubbing hard against my cheeks, as though I can push the tears right back into my eyes.

"Sorry," I say, as Lucas rests a worried hand against my back, stroking me like you would pet a puppy. It's cute. He doesn't seem to know what to do with me, while I'm just grateful that he's trying.

Once I'm sure my tears are gone, I smile up at him. "I'm just frazzled."

"You've been through a lot. Did I upset you when I took the phone call?"

"No!" The word bursts from me in horror. Does he think I'm that kind of person, who gets upset when he has to do important things instead of watching me sit in a hospital bed? "Not at all."

He blows out a breath in what I'm sure is massive relief. No one wants a mate that high maintenance. "Are you upset that I have to leave?"

I cringe. "It isn't that." I just came to some insane levels of assumptions. "Why… do you have to go?"

"Ah." Now he looks uncomfortable, and takes a seat on my bed, grabbing my hand.

Oh, God. This can't be good.

"Once we were safe, Kellan—my beta—led a force of my men into the heart of the Blackwood pack." I must not look devastated enough, because he clarifies, "In an act of war."

Since he seems to want some sort of input from me, I nod to show that I'm following.

"Unfortunately, in the chaos, your family and Alpha Renard escaped, but the territory is under our control."

I nod again.

he says,

care what happens to them." Too bad all

hospital. She's in critical condition

think I'm probably supposed to feel a lot of things right now. Like sadness, anxiety, worry, or other

there's a huge demon of vengeance in

I'm a raging psychopath. He's treating me so carefully as

reaches for my hand, sliding his rough fingers between mine. He must think I need comfort, and I'm not sure how

a lot of work to be done. We are working on disavowing every wolf from the Blackwood Pack and integrating them into ours, or letting them go as rogues. I'll be back every few days. Right now, another alpha is helping

on his brow. "You'll do great," I assure him. "But before

stomach twists. The "other alpha" must be Clayton; that's why he called. Maybe Clayton doesn't realize who I am yet, but they'll figure it out soon. I have to

checks his watch. "I only have a few minutes. There's a

I just need you to promise to listen without getting too

tenses, but his face is admirably calm with my words. "Whatever you have to tell me, don't worry, Ava. I won't think

I don't have time to worry about them. "When I was taken from Cedarwood, it

fingers going slack against mine, and his brows come

some rogues in Cedarwood who caught my

can you go into heat without a wolf?" Lucas asks, and

do you

"At the Gala, I'd been under the impression

that's why he looked at me with

to get someone into the pack to get the