71 Lucas: Preparation

LUCAS

“You’re positive?”

My still–smoldering cigarette is crushed into oblivion within the crystal ash tray, along with twenty of its kin. Smoke is an intrusive guest within the cramped room, swirling around the heads of both deltas standing before me.

Cheap motel rooms aren’t meant to house three large wolf shifter males, but it is what it is.

“Positive,” Ryder reports, cool as a fucking cucumber despite how much is riding on tonight.

The decision to invade Blackwood wasn’t made lightly. Most of the pack fought against the decision, until two more scouts were found dead at the border.

And, most importantly, a witness.

That one was alive, though.

“Council won’t move until we bring the official

petition,” Ryder continues, flipping through the notes

in front of him. “Even so, Silvermoon forces near the

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71 Lucas Preparation

border are confirmed and ready if we call for aid.”

The chair creaks beneath my weight as I lean back, but surprisingly manages to stay together. “With this act of war, Council will have lost its authority, anyway.”

My deltas say nothing. There isn’t much to say–the fact that an alpha is willing to say as much is far beyond their pay grade. Silvermoon has allied with Westwood, and Aspen as well, though Clayton seems to be busy hunting down his own missing mate. It’s an epidemic, and I’m positive it’s all been orchestrated by the Blackwoods to weaken the packs. @

Swaying the chair from side to side, I glance at the ceiling, thinking in between rhythmic creaks. “Ryder, head to Silvermoon. I’ll contact you if we need the reinforcements. Vester, stay with us. You’ll head off any runners from the south. Our goal is to cut off Blackwood’s head today. I don’t want this war going on for years.”

“Understood.”

Lighting another cigarette, I inhale deeply, letting the harsh smoke fill my lungs before exhaling a plume into the stale air. My deltas are on edge, too, but they wait

for my dismissal.

on my mind. My elusive mate has been sighted at her family home, under guard at all times. Further, that idiot

into his territory.

of stupid. We know better than to consort with those unwilling to abide by

order

humans.

that much of a dumbass. He has little connection with the

someone

their lands.

that taboo and the

we finally

we have a reason for war. Reasons that

to be rebuilt in

convention to declare it

shit. I

71 Lucas: Preparation

her from me.

scouts and settling all my wolves into a city near the heart of his pack lands. They have no presence

with them.

with ease. No alpha worth their rank would have allowed so many to settle in these human towns, and yet Blackwood has done so, leaving threats within his border without a

Sheer arrogance.

his downfall tonight.

quite so easy to infiltrate. their lands, but I’m grateful for it.

thought of her being so tantalizingly close after all this time. Tonight, she will

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71 Lucas: Preparation

not stupid. I can’t force it. If I have

when it’s safe and

in the creaky chair, letting it groan beneath my weight again, pondering our next move. The invasion plans are sound, our scouts are in position, and allies await the call to arms. But a part of me bristles at the thought of storming Blackwood lands like some mindless barbarian. There

that much is certain. He wouldn’t keep Ava close without

thought of others knowing more about her than me,

in my chest, and my wolf snaps at the

his mate

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71 Lucas: Preparation

need

necessary. My newest delta straightens his shoulders. “Prepare a small team–no more than five. We’re going in quiet,

aren’t too scared to run their mouths, but they know I have a short fuse when it comes to my mate. “You want to go in alone? With all due respect, alpha,

asking.” My tone leaves no room for argument. “If Ava is being held against her will, a full–scale invasion will only endanger her further. This has to be clean, precise. In and out before Blackwood even knows we’re there. We don’t know what that fucking bloodsucker

she’s safe, we can proceed

this world.”

They know the lengths I’ll go to for her–have seen firsthand

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71 Lucas: Preparation

whenever her name

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