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.”

to want some sort of input from me, I nod to

the chaos, your family and Alpha Renard escaped, but

I nod again.

he says, as if I’m not understanding.

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

She’s in critical condition due to the wolfsbane

Ava: Clearing the Air

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

of vengeance in my soul that is happy at his

don’t want to show my possible future mate that I’m a raging psychopath. He’s treating me so carefully as

his rough fingers between mine. He must think I need comfort, and I’m not sure

go as rogues. I’ll be back every few days. Right now, another alpha is helping me keep things in control over

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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Ava: Clearing the

something.”

“other alpha” must be Clayton;

soon. I have to head

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

just need you to promise

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

worry about them.

has his fingers going slack against mine, and his brows come together in thought. “No?

some rogues in Cedarwood who caught my scent.

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Clearing the Air (1)

you go into heat without a wolf?”

and I freeze.

you know about

been under the impression you were working with

looked at me with such intense

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

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

contrition.

been safe. I was so focused on how I felt about your alpha that I didn’t stop to think