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

But I’m not upset with you, Ava. I don’t want to leave with you thinking that this changes anything on my end.”

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

to his voice,

Ava Clearing the Air (II)

I nod.

you,” I whisper, finally feeling some of the

angry with me.

punch Clayton for touching

“I wasn’t–he didn’t-”

a joke,

sound like he’s

him in doubt.

again. “Ava. I fucked

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willing to give me

I nod, again.

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

Ava: Clearing the

us. I

secrets, and no regrets.”

send a quiver of longing straight through my

some other guy touched my mate. I’m the one who lost the right to call

all the

a little like a puppet on a string. I don’t

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 you out of that place. I want more than obligation

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

13.27

Ava Clearing the

words are sweet, but his actions are stirring

that’s far from innocent.

“Lucas-”

tongue darts out to taste my 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 admissions two seconds ago to this.

into my palm. “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

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

a yellow glint in his amber eyes. His wolf is here, straining for control. Lucas nips at my wrist, pulling back with a sigh, and I feel empty with the extra space