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

the oddly incapacitater guarde acas's face darkens with each word,

he sparis, pacing the room like a caged predator. "She's

breath, "Raised an impulsive

truth in them. Lucas is letting his emotions cloud his

conclusions without evidence.

to be his

know that for sure," I say softly,

Miriam's motives are unclear,

means us harm."

whirls on me, his eyes flashing. "How

to hurt me, but she hasn't, I argue, my voice gaining strength.

nor frindering us ve

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

before we act"

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

complacent in the power of

curls as he eyes Kellan, a low growl rumbling from

radiates off them in waves. Lucas steps between them, his own power flaring to life. "Enough." he commands, his

time for this."

back down, but the animosity lingers, simmering just beneath the surface. One day,

turns to Jericho, his brow furrowed. "What do you mean, we're too complacent? We've been on

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

works."

you suggest?"

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

means me. My connection to Sister Miriam,

expression darkening. "No.