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?”

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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

I’m not upset with you, Ava. I don’t want to leave

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

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

Clearing the Air

I nod.

of the stress ease

angry

to punch Clayton for touching what’s mine, though.”

“I wasn’t–he didn’t-”

a joke, Ava.”

sound like he’s

him in doubt.

kisses my fingers again. “Ava.

FɪndNøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access

give me a

I nod, again.

not expecting anything to happen overnight. I know that we’re both pushed together by this bond, but I want more than that. I want you, heart and

37

the Air

between us. I want there to be

and

send a quiver of longing straight through my body, and tears to my

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

the

string. I don’t know

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

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

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Clearing the

his actions

far from innocent.

“Lucas-”

into the very core of me. I shift beneath the blanket, wondering how we’ve gone from emotional admissions

“But 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

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

straining for control. Lucas nips at my wrist, pulling back with a sigh, and I feel empty with the extra space between us.