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.

touches down, I take a deep breath, trying to center myself. I know Clayton will be waiting at the airport to personally escort me to 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

is ours. No one

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With Clayton

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

so, 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 we want a chance

with her.

reasoning, but he stops snapping for

all the bullshit I

heart.

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

Clayton.

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With

our mate, my wolf snarls, hackles raising. He

growl back, wrestling my

can’t afford to lose it now.

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

He knows who Ava is to me.

he greets, his voice tight.

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

did it

force the rage down, swallowing the bitter accusations. We have more pressing matters

attention.

in strained silence, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavy between us. As we pull out onto the

13.28

Lucas: With Clayton

take it anymore.

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

me?”

sighs, his grip tightening on the steering

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

about it in

isn’t here to get a chance to see her. Like he has any right. to be involved in Ava’s life.

he? There’s no point trying to assign

again, the memory of Ava’s confession

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

to haln with Blackwood” I

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