Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 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 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."

exhaling a plume into the stale

last report weighs on my mind. My elusive mate has been sighted at her family home, under guard at all times. Further, that idiot alpha brought in an Unregistered

could be that level of stupid. We know better than to consort with those unwilling to abide by the

Blackwood is truly that much of a dumbass. He has little connection with the humans in his territory. Consorting

saved after the last attack, we finally have

rebuilt in the aftermath, even as I ignore all convention

shit. I

pack lands. They have no presence in the human cities, and no humans here are loyal to

the rogues we've run into have been dominated 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

Sheer arrogance.

his downfall

it to be quite so easy to infiltrate their lands, but I'm grateful for it. It's kept her safe while I

me, fueled by the thought of her being so tantalizingly close after all this time.

I have

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

drum against the armrest, a steady rhythm matching the thump of my heart. Renard Blackwood is a sly old bastard, that much is certain. He wouldn't keep Ava close without good reason. Is there a secret behind her?

more about her than me,

growl builds up in my chest, and my wolf snaps at the air in my mind. He's on edge.

his mate

plans need

force than necessary. My newest delta straightens his shoulders. "Prepare a small team—no more than five. We're going in quiet, just

have a short fuse when it comes to my mate. "You want to go in alone? With all due

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

she's safe, we can proceed to wipe

I'll go to for her—have seen firsthand the fire that burns within me whenever her name is