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

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 failure.”

nods. “Sending a message?”

tension. It’s been a long night. Weeks, really. Ever since Ava

of a wolf.

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

Ava needs her space.

no longer so distant. If all it takes is letting her

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The Dark

picking up her

on the shoulder, startling

“I’ll get the boys to start

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

is–she’s going to

innocence and a beautiful

places like

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

or some

surprised bark of laughter escapes me. “Fuck off. You make me sound like a serial killer or something.” But there’s

want before.

me want to be a better man.

future

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The Dark Side of

considered myself lacking before. Now,

brought into her life? I feel

lowest scum of this

nightmare a long time ago. Would have been,

we’re finally getting to be on the

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

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

I’m insane.

I be thinking like

it

of hers, to realize her walls had come down, and my

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Dark Side of Alpha

that

sweetly her body had-

Fuck.

have a

care about anything except Ava and Selene. He’s been

Damn it.

get out

her. Mate her. Mark her.