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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Dark Side of Alpha

little spy all around the perimeter of the Unregistered city. Let

“Sending a message?”

clear. 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 and mouse, trying to find that

of a wolf.

voice, that sweet laughter… it’s a balm and a curse; soothing my ragged edges while stoking the fire in my veins. I want to be there, watching over her as she heals, holding

Ava needs her space.

sacrifice. She’s no longer so distant. If

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The Dark Side of

up her call, even

me on the shoulder, startling me

the boys to start on the distribution.”

ready to do what needs doing. Even the ugly shit. “Sounds good.” Hopefully Ava never hears of these sordid details, the shadowy side of the Alpha title.

to me–and it is–she’s

innocence and a beautiful

places

a wry smile tugging at his mouth. “You’re thinking about her again, aren’t you? You

some shit.”

a serial killer or something.” But there’s no heat in it. He’s not wrong: Ava twists me up inside, makes me want

want before.

better man. For her.

future

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considered myself lacking before. Now,

brought into her

lowest scum of

long time ago. Would have been, if I hadn’t been such a fucking judgmental

finally getting to

I curse the erection that has yet to go down. You’d think the overpowering smell of blood, metallic in the back of my throat, would be enough to

can see is her gorgeous face and the way she pulls her bottom lip in when she’s worried. How her

I’m insane.

be

it bad.

realize her walls had come down, and my body

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<

The Dark

that hospital

her body had-

Fuck.

have a

Aside from bloodthirsty tendencies, he doesn’t care about anything except Ava and Selene. He’s been somewhat soothed since we’d made love on the hospital

Damn it.

to get out of here.

to her. Mate