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

But I’m not upset with you, Ava. I don’t want to leave with you thinking that this changes anything on my end.”

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 do it again, not when

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

the Air

I nod.

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

angry with me.

Clayton

“I wasn’t–he didn’t-”

a joke,

like he’s

him in doubt.

again.

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

give me a

I nod, again.

this bond, but I want more than that. I want you, heart and soul,

37

Ava: Clearing the Air (II)

us. I want there

and

straight through my body, and

going to run around like a feral wolf, snarling about how some other guy touched my mate. I’m the one who lost the

the anger.

a string. I don’t know how

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

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

13.27

Clearing the Air (II)

sweet, but his

that’s far from innocent.

“Lucas-”

my skin, and his groan sends quivers straight into the very core of me. I shift beneath the blanket, wondering how we’ve gone from emotional admissions

kiss after 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

with my other hand, gently touching

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