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

her cryptic warning, the oddly incapacitater guarde acas's face darkens with each word, a growl rumbling

trust her," he sparis, pacing the room like

breath, "Raised an impulsive beast,

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

conclusions without evidence.

to be his weakness

that for sure,"

Miriam's motives are unclear, but

means us harm."

"How can

of opportunities to hurt me, but she hasn't, I argue, my voice gaining strength. "She's cryptic and dustring, but I don't believe she's

nor frindering us ve

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

before we act"

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

in the power of

curls as he eyes Kellan, a low growl rumbling from his

bristling beneath the surface as 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 with authority. "We

time for this."

the animosity lingers, simmering just beneath the surface. One

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

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."

you suggest?"

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

chest. He means me. My connection to Sister Miriam, to the vampire's

expression darkening. "No. Absolutely not. I won't put