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

“We’re going to spread Renard’s little spy all around the

nods. “Sending a message?”

a long night. Weeks,

of a wolf.

curse; soothing my ragged edges while

needs her space.

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

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The Dark Side

picking up her call, even during this mess.

shoulder,

boys to start

“Sounds good.”

me–and it is–she’s going to live in

a beautiful

in places like

her again, aren’t you? You should go, before

some

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

want before.

want to be a better man. For her. For our

future

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The Dark Side of Alpha

considered myself

into her life? I

of

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

finally getting to be

the overpowering smell of blood, metallic in the back of my throat, would be enough to keep it down.

she’s worried. How her face changes when she smiles. How she moans when

I’m insane.

I be thinking like

got it

realize

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Lucas: The Dark Side

that hospital room

her body had-

Fuck.

a

about anything except Ava and Selene. He’s been somewhat soothed since we’d made love on the hospital bed, her body warm and soft and pliant beneath-

Damn it.

to get out of here.

Mate