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

13:50

1/8

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.

13:50

2/8

The Dark Side of Alpha

spy all around the perimeter of the Unregistered

nods. “Sending a message?”

to know we’re on to him.” I roll my shoulders, trying to dispel the tension. It’s been a long night. Weeks,

of a wolf.

edges while stoking the fire in my veins. I want to be there, watching over her as she heals, holding her close. Not here, elbow–deep

Ava needs her space.

today, I think I can finally feel the fruits of that sacrifice. She’s no longer so distant. If

13:50

3/8

Lucas: The Dark

worth picking up her call, even during this

shoulder, startling me

boys to start

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

me–and it is–she’s

and a beautiful

places

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

or some

me. “Fuck off. You make me sound like a serial killer or something.” But there’s no heat

want before.

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

future

13:50

4/8

Lucas: The Dark Side of

myself

pain I’ve brought into

of this

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

we’re finally getting to be on the

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

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

I’m insane.

can I be thinking

it

that little laugh of hers, to realize her walls had come down,

13:50

5/8

<

Dark Side

of that hospital room and

sweetly her

Fuck.

a problem.

bloodthirsty tendencies, he doesn’t care about anything except Ava and Selene. He’s been somewhat

Damn it.

to get out of here.

Mate