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.

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

battle. Every step I take through the terminal feels like a countdown to an inevitable confrontation. My wolf paces restlessly beneath

my wolf growls. She is ours. No one else

11:28

Lucas: With Clayton

than competition. My wolf may look at other

usually knows better than to

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

with her.

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

was easier than all the bullshit I have to deal with

heart.

fast food–it all mingles into a nauseating miasma that makes me want to gag. But beneath it all, one scent stands out,

Clayton.

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317

Lucas: With Clayton

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

I growl back, wrestling

We can’t afford to lose it now.

as our eyes meet, I can see it in his face, in the tense set of his

knows who Ava is to

he greets, his

Anger flares hot in

did it have to be her?

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 highway, heading away from White

13.28

Lucas: With Clayton

can’t take it anymore.

calm. “As soon as you found out, why

me?”

sighs, his grip tightening

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

it

get a chance to see her. Like he has

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

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

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

annrosinto you coming to haln

13:20 –