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

Ava. I don’t want to leave with you

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

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

the Air

I nod.

you,” I whisper, finally feeling some of the stress ease from my

isn’t angry with

Clayton for touching what’s mine, though.”

“I wasn’t–he didn’t-”

a joke,

like he’s joking,

him in doubt.

kisses my fingers again. “Ava. I fucked up, right?”

website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of

you willing to give me

I nod, again.

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

37

the Air (II)

between us. I

secrets, and no regrets.”

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

about how some other guy touched my mate. I’m the one who lost the right to call you that. I’m

all the

string. I don’t know how else to respond

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

cheeks as he presses another kiss against my fingers, before turning my hand over to nuzzle

13.27

the Air (II)

words are sweet, but his actions are

that’s far from

“Lucas-”

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

kiss into my palm. “But if I 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

other hand, gently

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