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."

smoke fill my lungs before exhaling a plume into the stale air. My deltas are on edge, too, but they wait for

her family home, under guard at all

than to consort with those unwilling

dumbass. He has little connection with the humans in his territory. Consorting with an Unregistered is nothing to someone who doesn't care about

that taboo and the witness saved after the last

will allow the Council to be rebuilt in the aftermath, even as I ignore all convention to declare it without their

time for that shit. I can't risk them hiding her from

good news, it was ridiculously easy to slide under his radar, avoiding his scouts and settling all my wolves into a city near the heart of his pack lands. They have no presence in the human

many to settle in these human towns,

Sheer arrogance.

his downfall

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

fueled by the thought of her being so tantalizingly close after

hopefully, free to choose me... But I'm not stupid. I can't force it. If I have to, I'll bring

await the call to arms. But a part

He wouldn't keep Ava close without good reason. Is there

others knowing more about her

up in my chest, and my wolf snaps at the

wants his

need

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

run their mouths, but they know I have a short fuse when it

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

she's safe, we can proceed to wipe them from

exchanges a glance with Vester, but both nod in reluctant agreement. They know the lengths I'll go to