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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spy all around

“Sending a message?”

my shoulders, trying to dispel the tension. It’s been a long night. Weeks, really. Ever since Ava escaped her family’s clutches, it’s been a constant

of a wolf.

a balm and a curse; soothing my ragged edges while stoking the fire in my veins. I want to be there,

needs her space.

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

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worth picking up her call,

shoulder,

thoughts. “I’ll get the boys to start on the

ready to do what needs doing. Even the ugly shit. “Sounds good.” Hopefully Ava never hears of these sordid

me–and it is–she’s going to live in

innocence and a beautiful

in places like this.

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

or some

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

want before.

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

future

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myself

what pain I’ve brought into her life? I feel like

lowest scum of this earth.

a long time ago. Would have been,

least we’re finally getting to be

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

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,

I’m

can I be thinking like

got it

that little laugh of hers, to realize her

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Lucas: The Dark Side of

memories of that hospital room and

sweetly her

Fuck.

have a problem.

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

Damn it.

have to get out

Mate her.