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

Alpha Renard escaped,

I nod again.

took over your pack,” he says, as

care what happens to them.”

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

Ava: Clearing the Air (1)

think I’m probably supposed to feel a lot of things right now. Like sadness, anxiety, worry, or other emotions that would be applicable to

a huge demon of vengeance in my soul that is happy

mate that I’m a raging psychopath. He’s treating me so carefully

sliding his rough fingers between mine. He must think I need comfort, and

Pack and integrating them into ours, or letting them go as rogues. I’ll be back every few days. Right now, another alpha is helping me

I don’t 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 the (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and

317

Clearing the Air (1)

something.”

stomach twists. The “other alpha” must be Clayton; that’s why he called.

figure it out soon. I have to head this

checks his watch. “I only have a few minutes. There’s a flight tonight that

I just need you to promise to listen without getting too

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

worry about them. “When I was taken from

has his fingers going slack against mine, and his brows come together in thought.

a deep breath. “There were some rogues in Cedarwood who caught my scent. I was going into

417

Clearing the Air

heat without a wolf?”

and I freeze.

know about

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

looked at me with such intense

looked into you. It took us a long time. to get someone into the pack to get the information, but I heard that you were wolfless and not treated well

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

contrition.

would have brought you back with me that night. You would have been safe. I was so focused on how I felt about your alpha that I didn’t stop to