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 more, and I stroke a

head without looking

those burning pyres and the smoke

pack to save Lisa, 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...

Selene stiffens. Ava.

20

no longer starring toward the bodies burning in front of

What is it?

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

anything. No one here does, and they're

and I

his amber eyes fiery as

between us is a warm weight, a

Not wanting to cause panic with words, I jerk my thumb toward Selene, still alerting to

takes in her body language and turns

unfocused look hits his eyes

away from the pack in

I assure Selene, but I

not to run over

her body against my shins, even as

focus on my scent

Accenting

that. It isn't like every member of the

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

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

I make no move to wipe them away. The weight of the lives lost se As the

murmurs in my

fallen."

I heard him, but my

in the flickering light. The bond between us pulses, and I want nothing more than

whine escaping her.

even respond, Lucas bolts. His powerful legs

get in the car. Now! Kellan barks, shoving me none-too-gently towards

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

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

hunt.".

we peel away from the scene, I twist in my seat to stare out back window at the blazing pyres lighting the sky.

A vampire? Here?

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? Any sign of a vampire?" He's silent for a moment, listening. "Alright,