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...

words trail off in confusion once

head without looking

burning pyres and the smoke covering the sky in

I whisper back, feeling 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 know that this... This

Selene stiffens. Ava.

20

me off guard. She's no longer starring toward the bodies burning in front of us. She's staring into the forest, her ears

What is it?

her murale, her nostrils flaring as she scents the air.

No one here

and I remain

amber eyes fiery as they reflect the light of

bond between us is a warm weight, a comfort in my chest, even

with words, I jerk my thumb toward Selene, still alerting to

and turns

unfocused look hits his eyes

breaks away from the

assure Selene, but I can

if she's struggling not to run over there

presses her body against

might focus

Accenting

every member of the pack

dark it's nearly black, but the flickering light of the funeral pyres highlights

to the sky as the last vestiges of twilight fade into the oncoming night. A howl rips from his throat, deep

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 weight of the

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

fallen."

to show I heard him, but my eyes

pulses, and I want nothing more than to go. to him, to bury my

a low whine escaping

I can even respond, Lucas bolts. His powerful legs propel him forward at a monstrous pace as he races in the direction.

Now! Kellan barks, shoving me none-too-gently towards

growls that sound far too vicious for simple hunt. Fear claws at my throat. Another fight?

the scent of a vampire." Kellan practically throws into the backseat before jumping behind the

hunt.".

my seat to stare out back window at the blazing pyres lighting the sky. The wolves a

A vampire? Here?

warning slams into me, and I curse 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 breath and pulls out his phone, punching i a number. "Vester? Is everything okay there?