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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to spread Renard’s little spy all around the perimeter of

nods. “Sending a message?”

on to 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,

of a wolf.

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

Ava needs her

fruits of that sacrifice. She’s no longer so distant. If all it takes is letting her go to to the occasional stupid party, it’s an acceptable

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worth picking up her

claps me on the shoulder, startling me out of

get the boys to start

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

it is–she’s going to live in

innocence and a beautiful world.

places

again, aren’t you?

or some shit.”

“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 up inside, makes me want

want before.

to be a better man. For

future

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The Dark

never considered myself

what pain I’ve brought into

scum of this

time ago. Would

to be on the

a 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

worried. How her face changes when she smiles. How she moans when I touch her, and… Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the FindNʘᴠᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and

I’m

I be thinking like

it

to realize her walls had come down,

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<

Lucas: The Dark Side of

of that

sweetly her

Fuck.

have a problem.

He’s been somewhat soothed since we’d made love on the hospital bed, her

Damn it.

have to get

her. Mate her.