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

things a bit. But I’m not upset with you, Ava. I don’t want to leave with you thinking that this changes anything on

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. Do

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

Ava Clearing the Air

I nod.

I whisper, finally feeling some of the

angry with

might have to punch Clayton for touching

“I wasn’t–he didn’t-”

a joke, Ava.”

sound like he’s joking,

him in doubt.

and kisses my fingers again. “Ava. I fucked

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

to give me

I nod, again.

that. I want you, heart and soul, with everything inside

37

the

bond between us. I

secrets, and

longing straight through my body, and tears

going to run around like 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

all the

tear escapes, feeling a little like a puppet on a string. I don’t know how else

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.

he presses another kiss against my fingers, before

13.27

the

but his actions are stirring

far

“Lucas-”

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.

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

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

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