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 to

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 know that I fucked up. And I’m not going to do it again, not when you’re right

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

the Air (II)

I nod.

you,” I whisper, finally feeling some of the stress ease

isn’t angry

have to punch Clayton for

“I wasn’t–he didn’t-”

joke,

sound like he’s joking, so I stare

him in doubt.

and kisses my fingers again.

to access chapters

to give me a chance?”

I nod, again.

I want more than that. I want you, heart and soul, with everything

37

Ava: Clearing the Air (II)

no bond between us. I want

and no

straight through my body, and tears to

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 the

the anger.

like a puppet on a string. I don’t know how else to

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

warmth flushing into my cheeks as he presses another kiss against my fingers, before turning my hand over

13.27

Clearing the

his actions are stirring a

far from

“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,

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

my other hand, gently touching his ‘disheveled hair.

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