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

upset with you, Ava. I don’t want to

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 you’re right here. I’ve already lost you twice. I’ll never let

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

Ava Clearing the Air (II)

I nod.

some of the

isn’t angry with

have to punch Clayton for touching what’s mine,

“I wasn’t–he didn’t-”

a joke,

like he’s

him in doubt.

kisses my fingers again.

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

give me a

I nod, again.

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

37

the

no bond between us. I want there to

no secrets, and no regrets.”

of longing straight through

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

the

a puppet on a string. I don’t know how else to respond except to nod

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 than obligation toward our fate, Ava. I want

my fingers, before turning my hand over to nuzzle

13.27

Clearing the Air

his

that’s far

“Lucas-”

very core of me. I shift beneath the blanket,

not going to push you,” he murmurs against my skin, pressing 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.

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

nips at my wrist, pulling back with a sigh,