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?

15.20

1/7

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

maintain

it’s 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

is ours. No one else can have her.

11:28

With Clayton

may look at other alphas with respect, but

usually knows better than to attack another

done. She is not our mate

with her.

my reasoning, but he stops snapping for Clayton’s blood, giving me some reprieve from all the unsettled emotions swirling in

easier than all the

heart.

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

Clayton.

13-20

317

Lucas: With Clayton

wolf snarls, hackles raising. He needs to

I growl back, wrestling my primal

afford to

my teeth, I approach Clayton, schooling my features into a mask of calm. But as our eyes meet, I can see it in his face, in the tense

He knows who Ava

he greets, his voice

his name feeling like gravel in my mouth. Anger flares hot in my veins, the urge to lash out,

it have to

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

attention.

silence, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavy between us.

13.28

With

take it anymore.

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

me?”

his grip tightening on the

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

about it in person.”

the face. Like he isn’t here to get a

He’s been helping this entire time, hasn’t he? There’s no point trying

memory of Ava’s confession

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

annrosinto you coming to haln with

13:20 –