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

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

that you haven’t chosen us yet. I know that there’s a lot more that you haven’t told me. I know that I fucked

roughness to his voice, his words are calm and unhurried

the Air

I nod.

finally feeling some of the stress ease

isn’t angry with

punch Clayton for

“I wasn’t–he didn’t-”

joke,

he doesn’t really sound like he’s joking,

him in doubt.

kisses my fingers again. “Ava. I fucked up, right?”

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

give

I nod, again.

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 would choose me even

37

Ava: Clearing the

between us. I want there

secrets, and

through my

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

the

little like a puppet on a string. I don’t know how else to respond except to nod mindlessly

-chance to be angry with me. Don’t feel obligated toward me, toward us, just because I

as he presses another kiss against my fingers, before turning my hand over

13.27

Ava Clearing the

words are sweet, but his actions are stirring

far

“Lucas-”

out to taste my skin, and his groan sends quivers straight into the very core of me. I shift beneath the blanket,

“But if I want to keep that promise, I’m going to have to walk away from you right now. Fuck. My wolf is

gently touching his ‘disheveled hair. “Don’t go yet.”

control. Lucas nips at my wrist, pulling back with a sigh, and I