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

warning, the oddly incapacitater guarde acas's face darkens

trust her," he sparis, pacing the

"Raised an impulsive beast,

in them. Lucas is letting

conclusions without evidence.

his

sure," I say

Miriam's motives are unclear,

means us harm."

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

hurt me, but she hasn't, I argue, my voice gaining strength. "She's

nor frindering us ve

"Ava's right. We can't afford to make assumptions.

before we act"

Running a hand through his hair, he growls, "I know. I

the power of the pack. Get too proud, and you'll be

Kellan, a low growl rumbling from his chest. "Watch your tone,

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 voice ringing

time for this."

the surface. One day, I'll learn more about this history

do you mean, we're too complacent?

head. "High alert? You call this high 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

works."

suggest?" Lucas

his eye. "You need to use every resource at your disposal. Including the ones you're not

my heart hammering in my chest. He means me. My connection to

his expression darkening. "No.