Tangled

177

177

177 Ava: Accepting Her Pack

During the few funeral rites Alpha Renard held in Blackwood, he spent a lot of time pontificating. Especially during the rites for h

sons.

Here, Lucas says nothing. Does nothing. Only stands there, his arms crossed over his chest, as he watches the pyres burn.

The amount of human bodies decreases as they all take to their wolf forms, standing and waiting. When I glance at Kellan, I can see that unfocused look in his eyes.

Lucas must be talking through the pack link.

That's why it's quiet.

There are wolves to either side of him, and I don't recognize any them. Then again, I know very few members of the pack.

I'd chafed over that, used it as an excuse to go to the party. But how much effort had I made to get to know these people? At every turn, I felt stifled by their regard for me as Lucas' mate. Did I ever engage the

If I can't even get to know the bodyguards sent to keep me safe at the cost of their own lives...

What kind of person doesn't even try, and just complains about her lack of freedom? a

If I had gotten to know them, perhaps things would be different.

17:44

177 Ava Accepting Her Pack

Instead of complaining that I couldn't go anywhere without them, maybe outings would have been fun with them. Maybe the other pack members would have seen me trying to be friends...

Ah.

All those people watching me during training take on a different meaning in my head now.

Who would welcome an aloof wolf into their midst, knowing she's made no effort to assimilate into the pack?

My whining is a sour taste in my mouth, especially knowing that some of those people have now lost their lives because of me.

Despite understanding the tragedy, despite feeling terrible over the loss of life and injuries, I'd never once put a single one of their lives as a priority. I'd focused instead on Lisa.

They deserve more from us, Selene murmurs, sitting beside me with her ears flat against her skull. I once led my pack. I would

have never...

trail off in confusion once more,

her head without looking

pyres and the smoke covering the sky in a dense, gray-black

sacrifice this pack to save Lisa, I whisper back, feeling the tears filling my eyes once more. We cannot lose more people. I don't know

Selene stiffens. Ava.

20

the bodies burning in front of us. She's staring into the forest,

What is it?

as she scents the air. I'm

doesn't seem to notice anything. No one here does,

and I

the clearing, his amber eyes fiery as they reflect the light of the burning

us is a warm weight,

Kellan's arm. I wait until his eyes meet mine. Not wanting to cause panic with words, I jerk my thumb

language and turns in the

that familiar, unfocused look hits his eyes once.

from the pack in

Selene, but I can

not to run over

too. I offer to her, but she presses her body against my shins, even as she continues to stare in

They might focus

Accenting Her

hadn't thought of that. It isn't like every member of the pack is

so dark it's nearly black, but the

oncoming night. A howl rips from his throat, deep and

area echoes with their song of grief and loss. Tears streak down my cheeks, but I make no

Kellan murmurs in my ear, his voice taut with tension. "A pack

fallen."

my eyes are locked on Lucas'

The bond between us pulses, and I want nothing more than to go. to

me, a low whine escaping her.

ears still pricked towards the forest. Before I can even respond, Lucas bolts. His powerful legs propel him forward at a monstrous pace as he

the car. Now! Kellan barks,

vicious for simple hunt. Fear claws at my throat. Another fight?

practically throws

hunt.".

twist in my seat to stare out back window at the blazing pyres lighting the

A vampire? Here?

to my room I'm sorry. I was so f