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

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

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. Do you understand?”

roughness to his voice, his words are

Ava Clearing the Air

I nod.

some of the stress ease

angry with

have to punch Clayton

“I wasn’t–he didn’t-”

a joke, Ava.”

really sound like he’s joking, so

him in doubt.

and kisses my fingers again. “Ava. I fucked

nod. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the FɪndNøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest

to 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 soul, with everything inside of you begging to be mine. I want to know that

37

Ava: Clearing the

bond between us. I want there to be no

and no

a quiver of longing straight through my

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 situation where you were alone, vulnerable,

all the anger. Okay?”

a tear escapes, feeling a little like a puppet on a string. I don’t know how else to respond except to nod mindlessly

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 toward our fate, Ava.

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

13.27

Clearing the Air (II)

words are sweet, but his actions are stirring a

far from innocent.

“Lucas-”

out to taste my skin, and his groan sends quivers straight into the very core of me. I shift beneath the blanket, wondering how

promise, I’m going to have to walk away from you right now. Fuck. My wolf is going insane. He doesn’t want

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

his amber eyes. His wolf is here, straining for control. Lucas nips at my wrist, pulling back