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

face darkens with

couldn't trust her," he sparis, pacing the

under his breath, "Raised an

truth in them.

conclusions without evidence.

his weakness

sure," I

Miriam's motives are unclear, but I

means us harm."

eyes flashing. "How can you say that? With this

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

nor frindering us ve

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

before we act"

fight drains out of 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

"I've told you both a thousand times, never become complacent in the power of the pack. Get

lip curls as he eyes Kellan, a low growl rumbling from his chest. "Watch your tone,

his father's gaze head-on, and dominance radiates off them in waves. Lucas steps between them, his own power flaring to life.

time for this."

One day,

do you mean, we're too complacent? We've been on high

"High alert? You call this high alert? Your borders are as porous as a sieve, and you're letting your emotions cloud your judgment.

works."

suggest?" Lucas asks,

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

swallow hard, my heart hammering in my chest. He means me. My connection to Sister Miriam, to the

darkening. "No. Absolutely not. I won't put Ava in