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

acas's face darkens with each

pacing the room like a caged predator. "She's toying

his breath, "Raised an impulsive

I can't deny the truth in them.

conclusions without evidence.

his

that for sure," I say

are unclear, but I don't

means us harm."

me, his eyes flashing. "How can you say that?

voice gaining strength. "She's cryptic and dustring,

nor frindering us ve

attention. "Ava's right. We

before we act"

Lucas, and his shoulders sag a little beneath the weight of this past week. Running a hand through his hair, he growls, "I know. I just- fuck. These damn bloodsuckers keep coming onto my lands, and I don't know

you both a thousand times, never become complacent in the power of the pack. Get too proud, and

a low growl rumbling from his chest. "Watch your

shoulders squaring. He meets his father's gaze head-on, and dominance radiates off them in waves. Lucas steps between them,

time for this."

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

"What do you mean, we're too complacent?

alert? Your borders are as porous as a sieve, and you're letting your emotions cloud your judgment. Vampires aren't like shifters. They're not like h guards around and hope

works."

suggest?" Lucas asks, his

slides to me, a calculating gleam in his eye. "You need to use

means me. My connection to

his expression darkening. "No. Absolutely not.