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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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

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

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.

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

Ava Clearing the Air

I nod.

I whisper, finally feeling some of

angry with

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

“I wasn’t–he didn’t-”

joke,

really sound like he’s joking, so I stare

him in doubt.

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

FɪndNøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in

you willing to give me a chance?”

I nod, again.

you,

37

the Air (II)

bond between us. I want

no secrets, and no regrets.”

a quiver of longing straight through my body, and tears

lost the right to call you that. I’m the one who pushed you into a situation where you were alone, vulnerable,

the anger. Okay?”

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

feel obligated toward me, toward us, just because I took

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

13.27

the

but his actions

that’s far from

“Lucas-”

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

keep that promise, I’m going to have to walk away

out with my other hand, gently touching

at my wrist, pulling back with a sigh, and I feel empty with the extra