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.

I take a deep breath, trying to center myself. I know Clayton will 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.

paces restlessly beneath my skin, eager for blood. I clench my fists, my nails

She is ours. No one else can have

11:28

With Clayton

Clayton is nothing more than competition. My wolf may look at other alphas with respect, but he never looks at them with friendship.

he usually knows better than to

done. She is not our mate yet. We can’t piss her off if we want a

with her.

tell me that he’s unsatisfied with my reasoning, but he stops snapping for Clayton’s blood, giving me some

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

heart.

stench of the airport crowds my nostrils as I exit the terminal, an overwhelming assault on my sensitive nose. Sweat, perfume, fast food–it all mingles into a nauseating miasma

Clayton.

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317

Lucas: With

touched our mate, my wolf snarls, hackles raising. He needs to

back, wrestling my primal side under

to lose

schooling my features into a mask of calm. But as our eyes meet, I can see

He knows who Ava is to

his voice

like gravel in my mouth. Anger flares hot in my veins, the urge to lash out, to demand answers,

Why did it have

swallowing the bitter accusations. We have more pressing matters to attend to. The Blackwood situation demands

attention.

to the car in strained silence, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavy between us. As we pull out onto the highway, heading away from White Peak, the tension only grows.

13.28

With Clayton

can’t take

voice deceptively calm. “As soon as you found out, why didn’t you call

me?”

grip tightening on the

found out myself. I came as soon as I could to help

about it

get a chance to see her. Like he has any

There’s no point trying to assign ulterior motives to his actions. We can’t get past this situation if I’m going to

my wolf growls again, the memory of Ava’s confession

close my eyes, fighting back the shift that threatens to overtake me, I can’t lose control.

coming to

13:20 –