Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 92 Ava: Clearing the Air (II)

My stomach churns, and I get through the rest of the words as quickly as I can. "My heat was uncontrollable, and I had sex with the alpha there. He took care of me and Phoenix kidnapped me when I was shopping with his sister. No, we aren't mated, but we aren't strangers, either."

There.

It's out.

I peek at Lucas to see his reaction, but he's just sitting there, his eyes unfocused.

It's obvious that he's taking some time to process everything.

My eyes drop to our linked hands, and I wonder if I should pull away before he does.

"Huh," he says, and squeezes my fingers.

Of all the responses I'd been expecting, that one isn't on my list.

"Lucas?"

He smiles at me, a lopsided little one. "I'm going to need a little time to process all this. I don't understand how you can go into heat without a wolf, for one. But I'm not angry, Ava."

I narrow my eyes in suspicion. "That doesn't seem right."

He sighs. "I'm… disappointed. In the situation, in how I put you there. In the way things could have gone but didn't, because of me. I'm angry at myself, and I have to think about things a bit. But I'm not upset with you, Ava.

with you thinking

that there's a lot

let it happen

eyes are intense. Despite the roughness to his voice, his words are calm and

I nod.

I whisper, finally feeling some of the stress

isn't angry with

to punch Clayton

"I wasn't—he didn't—"

"It's a joke, Ava."

doesn't really sound like he's joking, so I stare at him in

kisses my fingers again. "Ava. I

I nod.

to

I nod, again.

to happen overnight. I know that we're both pushed together by this bond, but I want more than that. I want you, heart and soul, with everything inside of you begging to be mine. I want to

words send a quiver of longing straight

I'm the one who lost the right to call you that. I'm the one who pushed you into a situation where you were alone,

little like a puppet on a string. I don't know how else to respond except to nod mindlessly at

obligated toward me, toward us, just because I took

against my fingers, before turning my hand over to nuzzle his mouth against my open

but his actions are stirring a

"Lucas—"