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

not upset with you, Ava. I don’t want

yet. I know that there’s a lot more that you haven’t told me. I know that I fucked up. And I’m not going to do it again, not when you’re right here. I’ve already lost you twice.

the roughness to his voice, his words are calm and unhurried as he speaks.

Clearing the

I nod.

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

angry

punch Clayton

“I wasn’t–he didn’t-”

joke,

like he’s joking, so

him in doubt.

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

nod. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the FɪndNøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest

to give me a

I nod, again.

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

37

Ava: Clearing the

no bond between us. I want there to be no

no secrets, and no regrets.”

words send a quiver of longing straight through my

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

all the anger. Okay?”

a puppet on a string.

need to have your -chance to be angry with me. Don’t feel obligated toward me, toward us, just because I took you out

into my cheeks as he presses another kiss against my fingers, before turning my hand over to nuzzle his mouth against my open

13.27

Clearing the Air (II)

his

far from innocent.

“Lucas-”

skin, and his groan sends quivers straight into the very core of me. I shift beneath the blanket, wondering how we’ve gone from emotional

if I want to keep that promise, I’m going to have to walk away from you right now. Fuck. My wolf is going insane. He doesn’t want to talk anymore. He’s been crazy about you since the beginning.”

other hand, gently touching

control. Lucas nips at