Tangled

91 Ava Clearing the Air (0)

91 Ava: Clearing the Air (I)

All my thoughts circle into some sort of insane melodrama right out of Selene’s favorite TV show, and I slap my hands against my face, rubbing hard against my cheeks, as though I can push the tears right back into my eyes.

“Sorry,” I say, as Lucas rests a worried hand against my back, stroking me like you would pet a puppy. It’s cute.

He doesn’t seem to know what to do with me, while

I’m just grateful that he’s trying.

Once I’m sure my tears are gone, I smile up at him. “I’m just frazzled.”

“You’ve been through a lot. Did I upset you when I took -the phone call?”

“No!” The word bursts from me in horror. Does he

think I’m that kind of person, who gets upset when he has to do important things instead of watching me sit in a hospital bed? “Not at all.”

He blows out a breath in what I’m sure is massive relief. No one wants a mate that high maintenance. “Are you upset that I have to leave?”

DE

91 Ava: Clearing the Air (1)

I cringe. “It isn’t that.” I just came to some insane levels of assumptions. “Why… do you have to go?”

“Ah.” Now he looks uncomfortable, and takes a seat on my bed, grabbing my hand.

Oh, God. This can’t be good.

“Once we were safe, Kellan–my beta–led a force of my men into the heart of the Blackwood pack.” I must not look devastated enough, because he clarifies, “In

an act of war.”

seems to want some sort of input from me, I nod to show that I’m

your family and Alpha Renard escaped, but the territory is under our control.”

I nod again.

pack,” he says, as if

what happens to them.” Too bad all

is in the hospital. She’s in critical condition due to

the

now. Like sadness, anxiety, worry, or other emotions that would be applicable to

there’s a huge demon of vengeance in my soul that

to show my possible future mate that I’m a raging psychopath. He’s treating me so carefully as he tells me all these things, and

reaches for my hand, sliding his rough fingers between mine. He must think I need comfort, and I’m not sure how to break it to him.

from the Blackwood Pack and integrating them into ours, or letting them go as rogues. I’ll be back every few

and I don’t resist the urge to reach out and rub the lines on his brow. “You’ll do great,” I assure him. “But

317

Clearing the Air (1)

something.”

alpha” must be Clayton; that’s why he

yet, but they’ll figure it out soon. I have to head this off

“I only have a few minutes. There’s a

is all I need. I just need you to promise

calm with my words. “Whatever you have to tell me, don’t worry, Ava. I won’t think less

worry about them. “When I was

his brows come together in thought. “No?

were some rogues in Cedarwood who caught my scent. I

417

Ava: Clearing the Air

go into heat without a wolf?” Lucas asks,

and I freeze.

do you know about that?”

I’d been under the impression you were working with your family–with the alpha of your pack.”

he looked at me with

into the pack to get the information, but I heard that you were wolfless and not treated well because of it.”

rubs over the back of

contrition.

kept my head out of my ass, I would have brought you back with me that night. You would have been safe. I was so focused on how I felt about your