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 of Alpha

little spy all around

“Sending a

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

of a wolf.

I miss her. It eats at me, 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. I want to be there, watching over her as she heals, holding her close.

Ava needs

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 stupid party, it’s an

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Lucas: The Dark Side

her call, even during this mess.

on the shoulder, startling me

the boys to start on the distribution.”

ugly shit. “Sounds good.” Hopefully Ava never hears of these sordid details,

it is–she’s going to live in

and a beautiful world.

places like

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

some shit.”

something.” But there’s no heat

want before.

be a better

future

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Dark

myself lacking before. Now,

what pain I’ve brought into her life?

scum of

long time ago. Would have been,

finally getting to be on the same

to go down. You’d think the overpowering smell of blood, metallic in the back of my throat, would

face and the way she pulls her bottom lip in when she’s worried. How her face changes when she smiles. How she

Fuck. I’m

can I be thinking

it bad.

little laugh of hers, to realize her walls had

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Lucas: The Dark

toward memories of that

sweetly her body

Fuck.

have a

go to her, my wolf whines. 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 bed,

Damn it.

get out

to her. Mate