Tangled

185

185

185 Ava: Can't Sacrifice the Pack for One

Person

"I don't mind sacrificing my life for Lisa's. But I can't sacrifice this pack for her. I'm struggling to know how to juggle these feelings."

The truth has my shoulders sagging, but he only nods.

"Responsibility will always be a shackle to your decisions. It's a good lesson to learn."

"Better if I'd learned it before lives were lost," I mutter, full of

self-deprecation.

"Sit up straight," Jericho snaps, his voice cracking like a whip. "Feeling sorry for yourself doesn't help anyone."

My spine stiffens even as I flinch, scrambling to obey the older wolf before my brain catches up to his demands.

Training is a scary thing.

Selene's ears perk up, and his head swivels toward the door. A few seconds later, I hear the thud of approaching footsteps. Jericho grunts, "That alpha sure took his sweet time."" The door bursts open, and Lucas strides in, Kellan at his heels.

Lucas's amber eyes lock onto me, wild and desperate, and he rushes to my side. His hands skim over my arms, my face, as if reassuring himself I'm unharmed.

"Are you okay? Did the vampire hurt you?" His words tumble out in a frantic rush, even though I'm sure he's been informed of my

↑ Devacho summarizes the situation in clipped tones. Skuter Mirams

oddly incapacitater guarde acas's face

he sparis, pacing the room like a

under his breath, "Raised an

the truth in them.

conclusions without evidence.

his

don't know that for sure," I

Miriam's motives are unclear, but I don't think

means us harm."

flashing. "How can you say that? With

plenty of opportunities to hurt me, but she hasn't, I argue, my voice gaining strength. "She's cryptic and dustring, but I

nor frindering us ve

throat, drawing our attention. "Ava's right. We can't afford to make assumptions. We need more

before we act"

and his shoulders sag a little beneath the weight of this past week. Running a hand through his hair, he growls, "I know. I

power of the

as he eyes Kellan, a low growl rumbling from his

air crackles with tension, their wolves bristling beneath the surface as Kellan stiffens, his shoulders squaring. He meets his father's gaze head-on, and dominance radiates off them in waves. Lucas steps between them, his own power flaring to life. "Enough." he commands, his

time for this."

down, but the animosity lingers, simmering just beneath the surface. One day, I'll learn more about this history between

brow furrowed. "What do you mean,

sieve, and you're letting your emotions cloud your judgment. Vampires aren't like shifters.

works."

do you suggest?"

in his eye. "You need to use every resource at your disposal.

means me.

his gaze, his expression darkening. "No. Absolutely not. I won't put Ava in