Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 44 Lucas: Shocking Return

LUCAS

The highway flies by in a blur of white lines and endless pine forests as I grip the steering wheel tightly with one hand, the other holding a cigarette I shouldn't be having. I quit smoking a long time ago, but the past forty-eight hours have been hell.

I didn't get to see Ava for a couple days after flying out when I got the news that our scout was murdered, his body hanging between the Blackwood and Westwood territories. I don't even know what Ava thought of my note taped to her dining table, explaining that I'd be back as soon as I could.

Is she grateful I'm not there? Or is she missing me?

My cell phone is pressed between my ear and shoulder while I shout into it in between puffs of the cancer-causing burn stick I've been craving for the past twenty miles.

"I don't give a flying fuck, Kellan," I growl, cutting off his protest. "I'm not leaving Washington for the next three days, so don't even fucking think about calling me back there."

"Lucas, come on. The Blackwoods—"

"Aren't going to do anything first." My jaw clenches as I take a sharp turn, tires screeching. "You know they're trying to bait us into the first move. We have no proof the Blackwoods killed him. Until we do, we can't do shit. And since we can't do shit, I need to see Ava."

"You're playing a dangerous game, Alpha." Kellan's sigh crackles through the speaker. "If Blackwood finds out you're sniffing around Grey's daughter..."

"He'll what? Start a war?" I let out a harsh laugh. "He won't alienate his allies. He's hoping they'll help him when the war comes. He won't take the first step."

"It changes everything and you know it."

I can practically hear Kellan's disapproved frown. He's been frustrated, saying my obsession with Ava keeps me too far from the pack and the issues going on there.

He's not wrong, but nothing is more important than my mate.

home. Once I do that, everything will fall into

softens as I picture Ava's face, those wide blue eyes that so easily sucker-punch me with so many feelings. "I'm finally making progress.

if she doesn't

question hangs heavy in the air, but I refuse to consider the possibility. Ava and I are meant to be together. I can feel it in my bones, in the way

firmly. "I'll

I choose to ignore it. He doesn't have a

to adjust myself without taking my hands off the wheel. It's been months since I last touched her, since I felt her soft skin under my fingers and tasted her sweetness on my

inch of her body. I want to bury myself inside her tight heat and make her scream my

with her, worshipping every curve and valley until she's trembling with need. And when she's right

now, my cock straining against the confines of my zipper. I press down on the gas pedal, urging the car to go faster. I need to get to Ava now, before I

waiting for Kellan's response before I end the call and toss it onto the

of anticipation building in my gut. I'm so close now, just a few more miles until I'm at Ava's doorstep, ready to grovel at her feet if that's what it

scout or any of the other bullshit waiting for me back home. All that matters is Ava and

get that steamy reconciliation I've been fantasizing about. The thought brings a wolfish grin to my face as I take the exit into town, my heart pounding

a sense of comfort, but

Fuck. Where is she?

with a grim expression. I make my

greets me, her voice

my body tense as I perch on the edge

Elkins sighs, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. "That's what I was hoping you could tell me. She hasn't shown up for work in the past couple of days. No call, no explanation. Her dog is missing,

my chest. Ava's missing.

she leave on her

is it

Those assholes have been looking for her, like they finally realized