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...

in confusion once more, and I stroke a

her head without

with those burning pyres and the smoke covering the sky in

the tears filling my eyes once more. We cannot lose more people. I don't know what to do. I don't know what's right. But I

Selene stiffens. Ava.

20

me off guard. She's no longer starring toward the bodies burning in front of us. She's staring

What is it?

her murale, her nostrils flaring as she scents the air. I'm not sure. It seems

doesn't seem to notice anything. No one here does, and they're all in

Kellan, and I

amber eyes fiery as

is a warm weight, a comfort in my chest, even

arm. I wait until his eyes meet mine. Not wanting to cause panic with words, I jerk my thumb toward Selene, still

body language and turns in the

that familiar, unfocused look hits

wolf breaks away from

on it. I assure Selene, but I can

if she's struggling not to run over there

but she presses her body against my shins,

might focus

Accenting Her

every member of the pack

any of the others. His fur is so dark it's nearly black,

the last vestiges of twilight fade into the oncoming night. A

in the lament until the entire area echoes with their song of grief and loss. Tears streak down my cheeks, but I make no move to wipe them away. The

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

fallen."

my eyes are locked on Lucas' wolf.

bond between us pulses, and I want nothing more than to go. to him, to bury my face in his fur and share in

beside me, a low whine escaping her. Ava, we should get in the

troubled, 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

Now! Kellan barks, shoving me

that sound far too vicious for simple hunt. Fear claws at

practically throws

hunt.".

the scene, I twist in my seat to stare out back window at the blazing pyres lighting the sky. The wolves a gone, vanished into the

A vampire? Here?

was so f Kellan curses under his breath and pulls out his phone, punching i a number. "Vester? Is everything