Tangled

93 Lucas: With Clayton

93 Lucas: With Clayton

LUCAS

Challenge him. Rip him apart.

My wolf’s snarling has occupied the majority of my short flight to White Peak, getting closer to the man who’s tasted my mate in ways that he never should

have.

My phone’s off, because I don’t know what I’ll do if he

calls.

The primal part of me is incensed, wanting to sink my teeth into his throat and tear it out, savoring every drop of the blood that spurts, content in knowing his soul has departed this world.”

But the rest of me recognizes that Clayton is my friend and ally.

What am I supposed to do with all these fucking feelings tripping me up inside? Having Ava back is supposed to make everything easier. Make things simple.

In my absence, will she begin to doubt my words?

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93 Lucas With Clayton.

If she sees Clayton, would she choose me over him?

I don’t have that confidence.

The fated bond between us is my only advantage. That, and the distance I can maintain between her and the

alpha I trust with the honor of my entire pack.

I can never let her return to Cedarwood.

There’s no way in hell I’ll lose the little advantage I

have.

be waiting at the airport to personally escort me to the Blackwood pack lands. I can’t let him see the turmoil raging inside me. I

maintain control.

a losing battle. Every step I take through the terminal feels like a countdown to an inevitable confrontation. My wolf paces restlessly beneath my skin, eager for blood. I clench my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I fight to keep the

She is ours.

11:28

Lucas: With Clayton

may look at other alphas

knows better than to

snap. There’s nothing to be done. She is not our mate yet. We can’t piss her off if we want

with her.

in the back of my head tell me that he’s unsatisfied with my reasoning, but he stops snapping for Clayton’s blood, giving me some reprieve from all the unsettled emotions swirling in

this shit. Even dealing with Blackwood was easier than all the bullshit I have to deal with in my

heart.

the terminal, an overwhelming assault on my sensitive nose. Sweat, perfume, fast food–it all mingles into a nauseating miasma that makes me want to gag. But beneath it all, one scent stands out, instantly putting my

Clayton.

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317

Lucas: With Clayton

our mate, my wolf snarls, hackles raising. He

it, I growl back, wrestling my primal side

afford to lose it

of calm. But as our eyes meet, I can see it in his face, in

who Ava

he greets, his voice

hot in my veins, the urge to lash out, to demand

her? Why did it have to be her?

I force the rage down, swallowing the bitter accusations. We have more pressing matters to attend to. The Blackwood

attention.

the car in strained silence, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavy between us. As we pull out onto the highway,

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With Clayton

can’t take it

calm. “As soon as

me?”

his grip tightening on the

only just found out myself. I came as soon as I could to help here, because I felt we

it

face. Like he isn’t here to get a chance to see her. Like he has any right. to be involved

hasn’t he? There’s no point trying to assign ulterior motives

wolf growls again, the memory of Ava’s confession ringing in my ears. He had his hands on what’s

to overtake me, I can’t lose

coming to haln with Blackwood”

13:20 –