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

my chest. “We’re going to spread Renard’s little spy all around the perimeter of the

nods. “Sending

him.” I roll 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 game of cat and mouse, trying to find

of a wolf.

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. Not here, elbow–deep

Ava needs

no longer so distant. If all it takes is letting her go to to the occasional stupid party,

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worth picking up her call,

on the shoulder,

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

always been there, watching my back, ready to do what needs doing. Even the ugly shit. “Sounds good.” Hopefully Ava never hears of these

it’s up to me–and it is–she’s going to live in peace.

innocence and a beautiful

in places

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

or some

escapes me. “Fuck off. You make me sound like a serial killer or something.” But there’s no heat in it. He’s not wrong: Ava twists me

want before.

me want to be a better man. For her.

future

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considered myself lacking before.

brought into her

lowest scum of this

time ago. Would

to be

severed 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 throat, would be enough to

scent. All I can see is her 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’m

be thinking like this?

got it

realize her walls had come down, and my body had

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<

The Dark Side of Alpha

that hospital

sweetly her body had-

Fuck.

have a

Ava and Selene. He’s been somewhat soothed since

Damn it.

to get out

to her. Mate her. Mark