Tangled

44 Lucas: Shocking Return

44 Lucas: Shocking Return

LUCAS

The highway flies by in a blur of white lines and

endless pine forests as I grip the steering wheel tightly with one hand, the other holding a cigarette I

shouldn’t be having. I quit smoking a long time ago, but the past forty–eight hours have been hell.

I didn’t get to see Ava for a couple days after flying out when I got the news that our scout was murdered, his body hanging between the Blackwood and Westwood territories. I don’t even know what Ava thought of my note taped to her dining table, explaining that I’d be back as soon as I could.

Is she grateful I’m not there? Or is she missing me?

My cell phone is pressed between my ear and shoulder while I shout into it in between puffs of the

cancer–causing burn stick I’ve been craving for the past twenty miles,

“I don’t give a flying fuck, Kellan,” I growl, cutting off his protest. “I’m not leaving Washington for the next three days, so don’t even fucking think about calling

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44 Lucas: Shocking Return

me back there.”

“Lucas, come on. The Blackwoods-”

“Aren’t going to do anything first.” My jaw clenches as I take a sharp turn, tires screeching. “You know they’re trying to bait us into the first move. We have no proof the Blackwoods killed him. Until we do, we can’t do shit. And since we can’t do shit, I need to see Ava.”

“You’re playing a dangerous game, Alpha.” Kellan’s sigh crackles through the speaker. “If Blackwood finds out you’re sniffing around Grey’s daughter…”

“He’ll what? Start a war?” I let out a harsh laugh. “He won’t alienate his allies. He’s hoping they’ll help him when the war comes. He won’t take the first step.”

“It changes everything and you know it.”

I can practically hear Kellan’s disapproved frown. He’s been frustrated, saying my obsession with Ava keeps me too far from the pack and the issues going on

there.

He’s not wrong, but nothing is more important than

my mate.

home. Once

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Shocking

fall into place.

face, those wide blue eyes that so easily

if she doesn’t want

and I are meant to be together. I can feel

say firmly. “I’ll make her see.”

suspiciously like “stubborn asshole,” but I choose to ignore it. He doesn’t have a fated mate connection. He doesn’t understand the pull between us, the raw,

she’s near.

has me half–hard in my jeans. I shift uncomfortably, trying to adjust myself without taking my hands off the wheel. It’s been months since I last touched

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Lucas: Shocking Return

my fingers

my tongue.

and moaning as I claim every inch of her body. I want to bury myself

chest as I imagine it: Ava spread out on my bed, her blonde hair fanned across the pillow as I hover over her. I’d take my time with her, worshipping every curve and valley until she’s trembling with need. And when she’s right on the edge, begging

zipper. I press down on the gas pedal, urging the car to go faster. I need to get to

grunt into the phone, not waiting for Kellan’s response before

in my peripheral vision, and I feel a

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Lucas: Shocking

few more miles until I’m at Ava’s

about the potential war with Blackwood or the dead scout or any of the other bullshit waiting for me back home. All that

been fantasizing about. The thought brings a wolfish grin to my face as I take the exit into town, my heart pounding in anticipation of

come.

coffee and old books usually brings a sense

is

Elkins catches my eye from

grim expression. I make my way to

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Shocking Roturn

greets me, her voice

seat.”

body tense as I perch on the edge of the chair. “What’s going on? Where’s

what I was hoping you could tell me. She hasn’t shown up for work in the past couple of days. No call,

heart clenches painfully in my chest. Ava’s missing. I leave on pack

she leave on her

something more sinister?

found her?

like they finally realized what

is,” I admit, my voice rough. “I’ve been out