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.

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.

knowing that, 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,

wolf growls. She is ours. No one else

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Lucas: With Clayton

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

better than to attack

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

with her.

but he stops

all the bullshit I have to deal with in

heart.

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

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

wrestling my primal side

to lose

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

He knows who Ava is

he greets, his voice tight.

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

her? Why did it have to be her?

accusations. We have more pressing matters

attention.

our way to the car in strained silence, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavy between us. As

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Lucas: With

can’t take

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

me?”

sighs, his grip tightening on the steering

as soon as I could to help here, because I felt we would need

it

The word feels like a slap in the face. Like he isn’t here to get a chance to see her. Like he has any right. to be involved in Ava’s

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 get past this

the memory of Ava’s confession ringing in my

shift that threatens to overtake me, I can’t lose control. Not here, not

to haln

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