Tangled

127 Lucas: The Dark Side of Alpha

LUCAS

I’m going to hell.

I’m going straight to hell on a VIP plane.

Pressing a soft kiss against my phone screen after Ava hangs up isn’t why.

Having a raging boner from the sound of her little laugh? That’s not why, either… exactly.

But what deranged psychopath gets hard from listening to their mate while slicing body parts off a

corpse?

Granted, he’s still groaning a little, so he isn’t a corpse yet. But he’s close.

“Did you fix the chainsaw?”

“Got it working again.” Vester holds it up, its teeth gleaming wetly in the dim light. The damn sound of it starting up again had almost ruined my conversation with my mate..

I nod, tearing my gaze away from the screen, Ava’s

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127 Lucas: The Dark Side of Alpha

sweet laughter still echoing in my ears. “Let’s get this done, then.”

The knife clatters onto the tray as I set it aside. I barely remember picking it up, so distracted by the sound of my mate’s voice. Her presence lingers, a phantom touch against my cheek. But reality crashes back in as I survey the mess on the floor.

I kick at his head, to the side in a glistening pool of blood. His eyes stare blankly, mouth slack. He stopped screaming a while ago, his healing abilities no match for Vester’s ruthless blade, but even so, the occasional groan comes out. He should have been dead already, but his body hasn’t realized it yet, still trying to fight the pain.

Fucking Blackwood spy. Thought he could infiltrate my borders, gather intel for that snake Renard. Not on my

watch.

We aren’t usually into dismembering, but it has its place.

“What’s the plan for all these bits and pieces?” Vester asks, wiping his hands on a rag that’s more red than white.

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Lucas: The Dark Side

mirthless chuckle rumbles in my chest. “We’re going to spread Renard’s little spy all around the perimeter of the Unregistered city. Let him catch a whiff of his

nods. “Sending a

Renard needs to know we’re on to him.” I roll my shoulders, trying to dispel the tension. It’s been a long night. Weeks, really. Ever since Ava escaped her family’s clutches, it’s been a constant game of cat

of a wolf.

being away from her. Hearing her voice, that sweet laughter… it’s a balm and a curse; soothing my ragged edges while stoking the fire in my veins.

Ava needs her

of that sacrifice. She’s no longer so distant. If all it takes is

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Dark Side

her call,

me on the shoulder, startling me out of

“I’ll get the boys to

ugly shit. “Sounds good.” Hopefully Ava never hears of these sordid details, the shadowy side of the Alpha title.

is–she’s going to live

a beautiful

in places like

tugging at his mouth. “You’re thinking about her again,

or some

sound like a serial killer or something.” But there’s no

want before.

better man. For her. For our

future

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The Dark

never considered myself

brought into her life? I feel like

scum of this earth.

should have been free of this nightmare a long time ago. Would have been, if

we’re finally getting to be on

has yet to go down. You’d think the overpowering smell of blood, metallic in the back

she pulls her bottom lip in when she’s worried. How her face

Fuck. I’m insane.

I be thinking like

it

hers, to realize

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<

Lucas: The Dark Side of

toward memories of that

her

Fuck.

a

Selene. He’s been somewhat soothed since we’d made love on the hospital bed, her

Damn it.

have to get out of

Mate her.