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

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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

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

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 here. I’ve already lost you twice. I’ll never let it happen again.

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 from my body.

angry with

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

“I wasn’t–he didn’t-”

a joke,

sound like he’s

him in doubt.

and kisses my fingers again. “Ava. I fucked up,

FɪndNøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of

give me a chance?”

I nod, again.

I want you, heart and soul, with everything inside of you begging to

37

Ava: Clearing the Air (II)

no bond between us. I want there to be

no secrets, and

of longing straight through my body, and tears

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

the anger. Okay?”

on a string. I don’t know

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 toward our

kiss against my fingers, before turning my hand over to nuzzle his mouth against my open palm.

13.27

the

but his actions

far

“Lucas-”

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

going to have to walk away from you right now. Fuck. My

reach out with my other hand, gently touching his

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