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 I do that,

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Shocking

fall into

those wide blue eyes that so

if she doesn’t want you back?”

are meant to be together. I can feel it in

say firmly. “I’ll make her see.”

He doesn’t have a fated mate connection. He doesn’t understand the pull between

she’s near.

I shift uncomfortably, trying to adjust myself without

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Shocking

under my fingers

on my tongue.

I claim every inch of her body. I want to bury myself inside her tight heat and make her

with her, worshipping every curve and valley until she’s trembling with need. And when she’s right on the edge, begging for release, I’d finally give it to her, thrusting deep as I spill myself inside

pedal, urging the car to go faster. I need to get to Ava now, before I combust from the sheer

to go,” I grunt into the phone, not waiting for Kellan’s response before I end the call and toss it

my peripheral vision, and I feel a

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Lucas: Shocking Return

more miles until I’m at Ava’s doorstep,

All that matters is Ava and

thought brings a wolfish grin to my face as I take the exit into town, my heart pounding in anticipation of what’s

come.

Ava. The scent of coffee and old books usually brings a sense

Where is she?

Elkins catches my eye from her

I make my way to her, dodging the mid–morning rush of customers.

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Lucas: Shocking Roturn

me, her

seat.”

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

clasped tightly in front of her. “That’s what I was hoping you could tell me. She hasn’t shown up for work in the

Ava’s missing. I leave on pack business

she leave on her

something more sinister?

her? Those assholes have

they finally realized what they

“I’ve been out of town for