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, and I stroke a

head

contact with those burning pyres and the smoke

once more. We cannot lose more people. I don't know what to do. I don't know what's right. But I know that

Selene stiffens. Ava.

20

longer starring toward the bodies burning in front of us. She's staring into the forest, her ears pricked forward and

What is it?

she scents the air.

No one here does, and they're all

Lucas, Kellan, and I remain in our

the clearing, his amber eyes fiery as they reflect the

warm weight, a comfort in my chest, even

mine. Not wanting to cause panic with words, I jerk my thumb toward Selene,

language and turns in

unfocused look hits

away from

I assure Selene, but I

she's struggling not to run over

offer to her, but she presses her body against

might focus on my

Ava Accenting Her

that. It isn't like every member of the

fur is so dark it's nearly black, but the flickering light of the funeral

of twilight fade into the oncoming night. A howl rips from his

but I make no move to wipe them away. The

in their wolf forms," Kellan murmurs in my ear,

fallen."

my eyes are locked on Lucas' wolf. He

his amber eyes glowing in the flickering light. The bond between us pulses, and I want nothing more than to go. to him, to bury my face in his

a low whine escaping her. Ava, we should get

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

car. Now! Kellan barks, shoving

vicious for simple hunt. Fear claws at my throat. Another fight? "What's

a vampire." Kellan practically throws into

hunt.".

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

A vampire? Here?

myself for not remembering sooner. "Kellan, Margot mentioned something abo a vampire at Blackwood when she bulldozed her way to my room I'm sorry. I was so f Kellan curses under his