146 Ava: Without His Knowledge…
146 Ava: Without His Knowledge…
Lucas watches me with concern and care, but all I can say is, “Oh.”
Some part of me had expected Mom to stay in a coma forever. Or die.
I didn’t think about her much. Ignoring her existence is easier than dealing with–well, everything.
“I would have to return to Blackwood in order to question her.” Every word is careful and measured, as though he’s not sure how I’m going to respond.
He doesn’t invite me to go. I’m not sure I want to. He probably realizes that.
Selene glances toward us, her ears flicking as she listens.
“I don’t think that’s the best idea. Your pack needs you here. They need to see their alpha.” I’m hesitant to speak up, but Selene’s watchful gaze gives me a little confidence. “Alpha Clayton is still there, isn’t he? I think he should lead the interrogation.”
It’s our first time saying his name between us and I
146 Ava: Without His Knowledge…
can feel Lucas‘ muscles tense.
Trying to give him a little comfort, I grab his hand, threading our fingers together. A silent message that I’m still here. That I’ve already made my choice.
My heart hurts when I realize how little I’ve really thought about the damage I’ve done to this man.
He relaxes, drawing me closer, his thumb rubbing against the back of my hand. “You’re right. I’ll call him.”
It’s amazing how warm my heart feels, knowing that I’ve given Lucas a little peace of mind, with a hint of my heart.
I’ve wasted so much time worrying about his
intentions. Worrying about being trapped in a gilded
cage.
Being brave is easier than I thought it would be.
He brings our joined hands to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss against them. “I have to meet with Kellan and discuss everything, but I’ll keep you updated. I
promise.”
***
The front door closes with a soft click, and Lucas‘
10:06
Without
with him.
wrapped around my middle, hugging myself as if that’ll hold all the broken pieces inside of me together.
Mom’s awake.
Lisa’s gone.
Vampires attacked.
get
in
lot to think
the floor. She watches me pace, her attention distracted from her show. Why
Lucas. About the baby steps we managed
“I can’t.”
not? Isn’t that what you wanted to do?
No. I don’t know.” I rake a
un inside mo
“It’s not that
16:08
3/8
Ava: Without His
simple.”
Because of Lucas.
perceptive for
by
tell him everything.
me differently? What if he doesn’t want me
nudges my leg with her nose, her fur soft against my skin. He could have
1
half–strangled to even admit it, and I
little. She’s not wrong.
despite everything. He’s nothing like my parents.
happy. Selene’s words are simple,
call him my
Ava: Without His
bond based
on the tip of my tongue to say fate, of course. But
I think
our bond insistently tugging us together, it
the reason I want to connect with
It’s just Lucas.
cares. How he came for me.
much I run from his feelings.
feeling the truth deep in my heart. Our fated bond drives us together, but
to be
mate, even more
fated one.
“But what if-”
can’t build a relationship on secrets and lies. But
a betrayal to put my bond with
Lisa’s
it’s the
half–convinced it is the wrong
Without His
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!