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.

Clayton will be waiting at the airport to

maintain

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

my wolf growls. She is ours. No one else

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With Clayton

at other

he usually knows better than to attack another alpha.

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

with her.

growls 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

Blackwood was easier than all the bullshit I have

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 that makes me want to gag. But beneath it all, one scent

Clayton.

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317

Lucas: With Clayton

our mate, my wolf snarls, hackles

growl back, wrestling my

can’t afford to lose it now.

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

knows. He knows who Ava is to

greets, his voice

my mouth. Anger flares hot in

her? Why did it have to be her?

bitter accusations. We have more pressing matters

attention.

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.

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With Clayton

take it anymore.

me?” I ask, my voice deceptively calm. “As soon as you found out,

me?”

his grip tightening on

as soon as I could to help here, because I felt

it

face. Like he isn’t here to get a chance to see

Clayton really is here to help. He’s been helping this entire time, hasn’t he? There’s no point trying to assign ulterior motives to his actions. We can’t

Ava’s confession ringing in my ears. He had his hands on what’s ours.

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

annrosinto you coming to haln with

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