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

against my knuckles that has my 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

golden eyes are intense. Despite the roughness to his voice, his words are calm

Ava Clearing the Air (II)

I nod.

of the stress ease

isn’t angry with me.

have to punch Clayton for

“I wasn’t–he didn’t-”

a joke,

sound like he’s joking,

him in doubt.

again. “Ava. I fucked up, right?”

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

you willing to give me a

I nod, again.

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 you would choose me

37

Ava: Clearing the Air

us. I want there to be

and

of longing straight through my body, and tears to my eyes.

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, and in heat. I’m the

the

a string. I don’t

obligated toward me, toward us, just because I took you out of that place. I want more than obligation

feel warmth flushing into my cheeks as he presses another kiss against my fingers,

13.27

Clearing the Air

words are sweet, but his

far from

“Lucas-”

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

pressing kiss after kiss into my palm. “But if I want to keep that promise, I’m going to have

out with my other hand, gently touching his ‘disheveled

control. Lucas nips at my wrist, pulling back with a sigh, and I feel empty with the extra space