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

a bit. But I’m not upset with you, Ava. I don’t want

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.

his voice, his

the

I nod.

finally feeling some of the

isn’t angry with me.

Clayton for touching what’s

“I wasn’t–he didn’t-”

a joke, Ava.”

like he’s joking, so I stare

him in doubt.

and kisses my fingers again. “Ava. I fucked

nod. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the FɪndNøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to

give me a

I nod, again.

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

the

no bond between us. I want there to be no

secrets, and no regrets.”

a quiver of longing straight through

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

the anger.

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

with me. Don’t feel obligated toward me, toward us, just because I took you

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

13.27

Ava Clearing the

are sweet, but his

far from

“Lucas-”

darts out to taste my skin, and his groan sends quivers straight into the very core of me. I shift

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 is going insane. He doesn’t want to talk anymore. He’s been crazy

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

a yellow glint 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 with