Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 127 Lucas: The Dark Side of Alpha

LUCAS

I'm going to hell.

I'm going straight to hell on a VIP plane.

Pressing a soft kiss against my phone screen after Ava hangs up isn't why.

Having a raging boner from the sound of her little laugh? That's not why, either… exactly.

But what deranged psychopath gets hard from listening to their mate while slicing body parts off a corpse?

Granted, he's still groaning a little, so he isn't a corpse yet. But he's close.

"Did you fix the chainsaw?"

"Got it working again." Vester holds it up, its teeth gleaming wetly in the dim light. The damn sound of it starting up again had almost ruined my conversation with my mate.

I nod, tearing my gaze away from the screen, Ava's sweet laughter still echoing in my ears. "Let's get this done, then."

The knife clatters onto the tray as I set it aside. I barely remember picking it up, so distracted by the sound of my mate's voice. Her presence lingers, a phantom touch against my cheek. But reality crashes back in as I survey the mess on the floor.

I kick at his head, to the side in a glistening pool of blood. His eyes stare blankly, mouth slack. He stopped screaming a while ago, his healing abilities no match for Vester's ruthless blade, but even so, the occasional groan comes out. He should have been dead already, but his body hasn't realized it yet, still trying to fight the pain.

Fucking Blackwood spy. Thought he could infiltrate my borders, gather intel for that snake Renard. Not on my watch.

We aren't usually into dismembering, but it has its place.

"What's the plan for all these bits and pieces?" Vester asks, wiping his hands on a rag that's more red than white.

Renard's little spy all around the perimeter

nods. "Sending a

the tension. It's been a long night. Weeks, really. Ever since Ava escaped her family's clutches, it's been a constant game of cat and mouse, trying to find that little snake of a

her. Hearing her voice, that sweet laughter... it's a balm and a curse, soothing my ragged edges while stoking the fire in my

Ava needs her

today, I think I can finally feel the fruits of that sacrifice. She's no longer so distant. If all it takes is letting her go to to the occasional stupid party,

her call, even during

me on the shoulder, startling me out of my

watching my back, ready to do what needs doing. Even the ugly shit. "Sounds good." Hopefully Ava

up to me—and it is—she's going to live in peace. In innocence and a

places like

"You're thinking about her again, aren't you? You should go, before you start writing love poems in entrails or some

"Fuck off. You make me sound like a serial killer or something." But there's no heat in it. He's not wrong.

a better man. For her. For our

considered myself lacking before. Now, knowing what pain I've brought into her life? I feel

of this nightmare a long time ago. Would

we're finally getting to

think the overpowering smell of blood, metallic in the back of my throat,

I can see is her gorgeous face and the way she pulls her bottom lip in when she's worried. How her

Damn. Fuck. I'm insane.

I be thinking

I've got it bad.

that little laugh of hers, to realize her walls had come down, and my body had surged

Fuck.

I have a problem.

to her, my wolf whines. Aside from bloodthirsty tendencies, he doesn't care about anything except Ava and Selene. He's

Damn it.