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

don’t want to leave with you thinking that this changes anything on my end.”

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 told me. I

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

the

I nod.

whisper, finally feeling some of the stress ease from my

isn’t angry

have to punch Clayton for touching

“I wasn’t–he didn’t-”

joke,

doesn’t really sound like he’s

him in doubt.

my fingers again. “Ava. I fucked

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give

I nod, again.

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 if there

37

Clearing the Air (II)

us. I want there to be no

secrets, and

straight through

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

the anger.

as a tear escapes, feeling a little like a puppet on a string. I don’t know

You need to have your -chance to be angry with me. Don’t feel obligated toward me, toward

against my fingers, before turning my hand over to nuzzle

13.27

Ava Clearing the

but his actions

that’s far from

“Lucas-”

groan sends quivers straight into the very core of me. I shift beneath the blanket, wondering

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

gently touching his ‘disheveled

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