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

guarde acas's face darkens with each word, a growl rumbling in his

knew we couldn't trust her," he sparis, pacing the room like

mutters under his breath, "Raised an

I can't deny the truth in them. Lucas is letting his emotions cloud his judgment, jumping

conclusions without evidence.

his weakness

that for sure," I say

"Sister Miriam's motives are unclear, but

means us harm."

me, his eyes flashing. "How can you say

my voice gaining strength. "She's cryptic and

nor frindering us ve

right. We can't afford to make assumptions. We need more

before we act"

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 damn bloodsuckers keep coming onto my lands, and I don't know

thousand times, never become complacent in the power of the pack.

lip curls as he eyes Kellan, a low growl

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

time for this."

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

mean, we're too complacent? We've

borders are as porous as a sieve, and you're letting your emotions cloud your judgment. Vampires aren't like shifters. They're

works."

what do you suggest?" Lucas asks, his

me, a calculating gleam in his eye. "You need to use every resource at your disposal. Including the ones

my heart hammering in my chest. He means me. My connection to Sister Miriam, to the vampire's

"No. Absolutely not. I won't