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.

know Clayton will be waiting at the airport to personally escort me to

to maintain

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

my wolf growls. She is ours. No one else

11:28

Lucas: With

wolf may look at other alphas with respect, but he never looks at them

usually knows better than to attack another

There’s nothing to be done. She is not our mate yet. We can’t

with her.

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

Blackwood was easier than all the bullshit I have to deal

heart.

I exit 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 wolf

Clayton.

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317

Lucas: With Clayton

mate, my wolf snarls,

back, wrestling my primal side under

We can’t afford to lose

calm. But as our eyes

knows who Ava

he greets, his

respond, his name feeling like gravel in my mouth. Anger flares hot in my veins,

Why did it

the bitter accusations. We have more

attention.

the car in strained silence, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavy between

13.28

Lucas: With

take it anymore.

my voice deceptively calm. “As soon as

me?”

grip tightening on the

as soon as I could to help here, because I

about it

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 to his actions. We can’t get past

of Ava’s confession ringing in my

the shift that threatens to

you coming to

13:20 –