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.”

he seems to want some sort of input from me, I nod to show

in the chaos, your family and Alpha Renard escaped,

I nod again.

pack,” he says,

you.” I tilt my head. “I don’t care what happens to them.” Too

the hospital. She’s in critical condition due to the wolfsbane I injected her

the

feel a lot of things right now. Like sadness, anxiety, worry, or other emotions that would

a huge demon of vengeance in my soul that is happy at his

show my possible future mate that I’m a raging psychopath. He’s treating me so carefully

reaches for my hand, sliding his rough fingers between mine. He must think I need comfort,

I’ll be back every few days. Right now, another alpha is helping me keep things in control over there, but I can’t just let

resist the urge to reach out and rub the lines on his brow. “You’ll do great,” I assure him. “But before you go, I have to tell you S~ᴇaʀᴄh

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the Air

something.”

The “other alpha” must be Clayton; that’s why he called. Maybe Clayton doesn’t

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

his watch. “I only have a few minutes. There’s a

need. I just need you to promise to

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

seem odd, but I don’t have time to worry about them. “When I

slack against mine, and his brows

rogues in Cedarwood who caught my

417

Ava: Clearing the

go into heat

and I freeze.

know

I’d been under the impression you were working with

at me with such intense hatred.

looked into you. It took us a long time. to get someone into the pack

his thumb rubs over the back of my hand, over and over, in silent

contrition.

I had just kept my head out of my ass, I would have brought you back with me that night. You would have been safe. I was