Tangled

92 Ava Clearing the Air (1)

92 Ava: Clearing the Air (II)

My stomach churns, and I get through the rest of the words as quickly as I can. “My heat was uncontrollable, and I had sex with the alpha there. He took care of me and Phoenix kidnapped me when I was shopping with his sister. No, we aren’t mated, but we aren’t strangers, either.”

There.

It’s out.

I peek at Lucas to see his reaction, but he’s just sitting there, his eyes unfocused.

It’s obvious that he’s taking some time to process everything.

My eyes drop to our linked hands, and I wonder if I should pull away before he does.

“Huh,” he says, and squeezes my fingers.

Of all the responses I’d been expecting, that one isn’t on my list.

“Lucas?”

13.27 C

17

92 Ava: Clearing the Air (II)

He smiles at me, a lopsided little one. “I’m going to need a little time to process all this. I don’t understand how you can go into heat without a wolf, for one. But I’m not angry, Ava.”

I narrow my eyes in suspicion. “That doesn’t seem right.”

to xx

He sighs. “I’m… disappointed. In the situation, in how I put you there. In the way things could have gone but didn’t, because of me. I’m angry at myself, and I have

But I’m not upset with you, Ava. I don’t want to leave with you thinking that this changes

our linked hands to his lips, pressing a soft kiss against my knuckles that has my belly fluttering. “I know that you haven’t chosen us yet. I know that there’s a lot more that you haven’t

voice, his words are calm and unhurried as

Clearing the

I nod.

I whisper, finally feeling some of the stress ease from my body.

isn’t angry with me.

punch Clayton for

“I wasn’t–he didn’t-”

a joke, Ava.”

he doesn’t really sound like he’s joking, so I stare

him in doubt.

my fingers again. “Ava. I fucked up,

Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the FɪndNøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of

willing to give me a chance?”

I nod, again.

pushed together by this bond, but I want more than that. I want you, heart and soul, with everything inside of you begging to be mine. I want to know that you

37

the Air (II)

I want

no secrets, and no regrets.”

send a quiver of longing straight through

have that if I’m going to run around like a feral wolf, snarling about how some other guy touched my mate. I’m the one who lost the right to call you that. I’m the one who pushed you into a situation where you were alone, vulnerable, and in heat. I’m

all the anger. Okay?”

as a tear escapes, feeling a little like a puppet on a string. I don’t know how else to respond except to nod mindlessly at his words.

obligated toward me, toward us, just

flushing into my cheeks as he presses another kiss against my

13.27

Ava Clearing the Air

words are sweet, but his actions are stirring a

far from innocent.

“Lucas-”

His tongue darts out to taste my skin, and his groan sends quivers straight into the very core of me. I shift beneath the blanket, wondering how we’ve

keep that promise, I’m going to have to walk away from you right now. Fuck. My wolf is going insane. He

out with my other hand, gently touching his ‘disheveled hair. “Don’t

yellow glint in his amber eyes. His wolf is here, straining for control. Lucas nips at my wrist, pulling back with a sigh, and I feel empty with