Tangled

264 Ava: Lucas is Recovering

264 Ava: Lucas is Recovering

"How can that be?!"

It's a stupid question. Betrayal comes in all shapes and sizes. It can happen to anyone at any time.

But it's still a shock.

Kellan shakes his head. "It's the only thing that makes sense. Someone knew every move we made. It's why secrecy is valued even here." He rubs the bridge of his nose with a long sigh. "Getting everyone here felt impossible. We lost so many, even after the fighting, during the retreat. Especially after Lucas was hurt."

"He's okay now, right?"

Kellan stares at me, a muscle in his cheek twitching. "To an extent, yes. Your Sister Miriam arrived in time

to stabilize him."

I frown. "What do you mean?"

"If she and Selene hadn't been there, Lucas would have succumbed to his injuries."

That can't be possible.

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264 Ava: Lucas is Recovering

It's hard enough to accept that he was grievously injured without a single hiccup in the bond between

1. us.

It's worse to think I could have lost him, and had no idea. Even now, the only feeling in my chest is of my bond humming in excitement, ready to see Lucas, impatient with this detour Kellan's devised.

"I can't feel anything different. It feels the same as it always does, in here." I touch my chest, tears filling my eyes at the thought of almost losing Lucas. We've barely had time together, with all these insane happenings around us. "Why didn't I feel it?"

"You have a fated mate connection, but you aren't marked. You aren't mated. You wouldn't feel anything. It's either there, or it isn't." He rubs a hand vigorously over his head, making a face. "Can't feel direction or anything else, not unless they're nearby."

Oh. He's frustrated.

He's mated to Lisa and has yet to see her.

"Lisa's coming," I blurt out. "She should be here soon."

Kellan moves so fast I barely register it. His hands alamn down man muunner arme his grin tight anaugh

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264 Ava: Lucas is Recovering

to form bruises. His eyes burn with an intensity that

takes my breath away.

"Are you serious?" he demands, raw and emotional in a way I've never seen. Not even when he first recognized his mated connection, the day we lost Lisa.

For a moment, I'm stunned by his reaction. Is this how Lucas felt when he finally found me? My heart flips at the thought, a desperate longing to see him washing over me. I push it aside, focusing on Kellan. "Yes," I assure him, keeping my voice steady. "That's what I was told. Lisa should be on her way here."

Kellan blinks, seeming to come back to himself. He glances down at his hands, still gripping my arms, and abruptly lets go. Stepping back, his features smooth into the mask of beta professionalism I've always thought was his normal face.

"I apologize, Ava," he says, voice clipped. "That was inappropriate of me."

"It's okay," I tell him, rubbing my arms where his fingers left imprints. "I understand."

And I do. The relief and hope in his eyes, quickly

masked is forever burned into my memory.

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264 Ava: Lucas is Recovering

It occurs to me Lisa doesn't know about their fated connection. I'm not sure how well that's going to go

over.

"When did you get this information?" Kellan asks, all business now.

"Just before we left to come here," I explain. "A man named Acarus told us. He's... connected to Sister Miriam." Kellan's eyebrows rise slightly at that. "Sister Miriam," he murmurs. "She's been quite involved lately."

Then he shakes his head, as if clearing away unwanted thoughts. "About Lucas."

My heart races. "I want to see him."

"He's... recovering," he says carefully. "But there have been unexpected setbacks."

This time I'm the one to close the distance between us, my fingers wrapping around Kellan's forearm. The muscles beneath my grip are taut, betraying the tension he's trying so hard to hide. "What do you mean?" I demand, my voice rising. "Stop beating around the bush, Kellan. What's going on with

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Luca

264 Ava: Lucas is Recovering

Kellan's eyes flutter shut, and he drags his free hand down his face. A low growl rumbles in his chest, a sound of frustration and something I can't quite put my finger on.

"Lucas isn't..." He pauses, swallowing hard. "He's not the same as before."

My grip on his arm tightens. I can feel my nails digging into his skin, but I can't let go. "Stop being so fucking cryptic and just tell me!" Desperation claws at my insides. "What's wrong with him?" Kellan's eyes snap open, meeting mine. The pain I see there steals my breath. When he speaks, his voice is barely above a whisper.

"Alpha has lost his memory."

The words hit me like a physical blow. I stumble back, my hand falling from his arm. "What?" I breathe,

unable to process what he's saying.

That can't be possible.

Kellan continues, his voice low and strained. "He doesn't recognize any of his wolves. He's been unable

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264 Ava: Lucas is Recovering

to communicate through the pack bonds, though we seem to still have a connection to him as our alpha."

I shake my head, denial rising like bile in my throat. "No," I whisper. "That's not possible. I would have felt something. Our bond-"

"Your bond isn't complete," Kellan reminds me gently. "You're not marked. Not mated."

The truth of his words crashes over me, and I feel my knees buckle. Kellan reaches out, steadying me with a firm grip on my shoulders.

"How?" I manage to choke out. "How did this happen?"

Kellan's jaw clenches. "The attack. When he was. injured... Sister Miriam saved his life, but there were complications. We don't know if it's temporary or..." He trails off, unable to finish the thought. My mind races, trying to make sense of this new reality. Lucas, my Lucas, doesn't remember me.

Doesn't remember us.

The future we'd begun to build together, the promises we'd made-all of it, gone in an instant.

"I need to see him," I say, my voice stronger than I feel.

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264 Ava: Lucas is Recovering

"Take me to him, Kellan. Now."

Kellan hesitates. "Ava, I'm not sure that's-"

"Now," I repeat, steel in my tone. "I don't care if he

doesn't remember me. I need to see him with my own eyes."

For a moment, I think he's going to argue. But then his shoulders slump, and he nods. "Alright. Follow me."

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