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

around the perimeter of the Unregistered city. Let him catch a whiff

“Sending a message?”

long night. Weeks, really. Ever since Ava escaped her family’s clutches, it’s been a constant game of cat

of a wolf.

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

needs her

today, I think I can finally feel the fruits of that sacrifice. She’s no longer so distant. If all it takes is letting her go to to the occasional

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Dark Side of Alpha

picking up her call, even

me on the shoulder, startling me out of

get the boys to start on the distribution.”

been there, watching my back, ready to do what needs doing. Even the ugly shit. “Sounds good.”

up to me–and it is–she’s going to live

innocence and a beautiful

places like

thinking about her again, aren’t you? You should go, before you start writing love poems in

or some shit.”

surprised bark of laughter escapes me. “Fuck off. You make me sound like a serial killer or something.” But there’s no heat in it. He’s

want before.

a better man. For her. For our

future

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Dark Side of Alpha

considered myself lacking

into her life?

of this

of this nightmare a long time ago. Would have

finally getting to be

at a severed foot, I curse the erection that has yet to go down. You’d think the overpowering smell of blood, metallic in the back

right now is the smell of Ava’s unique scent. All I can see is her gorgeous face and the way she pulls her bottom lip in when she’s worried. How her face changes when she smiles. How she moans when I touch her, and… Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the

I’m insane.

can I be thinking like

it

to realize

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Dark

toward memories of that hospital

her body had-

Fuck.

have a problem.

go to her, my wolf whines. Aside from bloodthirsty tendencies, he doesn’t care about anything except Ava and Selene. He’s been somewhat

Damn it.

get out of here.

to her. Mate her. Mark