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.

spy all around the

"Sending a

clear. Renard needs to know we're on to him." I roll my shoulders, trying to dispel the tension. It's been a long night. Weeks, really. Ever since Ava escaped her family's clutches, it's been

a curse, soothing my ragged edges while stoking

Ava needs

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

up her call,

the shoulder, startling me out of my brooding thoughts. "I'll get the boys to start

my back, ready to do what needs doing. Even the ugly shit. "Sounds good." Hopefully Ava never hears of these sordid details, the shadowy side of the Alpha

going to live in

places

snorts, a wry smile tugging at his mouth. "You're thinking about her again, aren't you? You should go, before you start writing love poems in entrails or some

like a serial killer or something." But there's no heat in it. He's not wrong. Ava twists me up inside, makes me want things I've never let myself want

better man. For her. For our

before. Now, knowing what pain I've brought into

ago. Would have been, if I

we're finally getting to be

severed foot, I curse the erection that has yet to go down. You'd think the overpowering smell of blood, metallic in the back of my throat, would be enough to

face and the way she pulls her bottom lip in when she's worried.

Damn. Fuck. I'm insane.

I be thinking

I've got it bad.

realize her walls had come down, and my body had surged straight toward memories of that hospital room and how

Fuck.

I have a problem.

about anything except Ava and Selene. He's been somewhat soothed since we'd made love on the hospital bed, her

Damn it.