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."

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

on my mind. My elusive mate has been sighted at her family home, under guard at

that level of stupid. We know better than to consort with those unwilling to abide by the standards we've

humans in his territory. Consorting with an Unregistered is nothing

the witness saved after

war. Reasons that will allow the Council to be rebuilt in the aftermath, even

have time for that shit. I can't risk them

and settling all my wolves into a city near the heart of his pack lands. They have no presence in the human cities, and no humans here are loyal to the power of the

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,

Sheer arrogance.

his

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

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

force it. If I have to, I'll bring her back to Cedarwood when it's safe and woo

await the call to arms. But a part of me bristles at the thought of storming Blackwood lands like some mindless barbarian. There has to be a better way—a

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? Something I have yet to learn? Why

others knowing more about her

in my chest, and my wolf snaps at the air in my

wants his mate

need to

than necessary. My newest delta straightens his shoulders. "Prepare a small team—no more than five. We're going in quiet, just you and me at the front. The rest will hang back as support. Once we have her safe, the plan will move

fuse when it comes to my mate. "You want to go in alone? With all due respect, alpha, that's a

will, a full-scale invasion will only endanger her further. This has to be clean, precise. In and out before Blackwood even

can proceed to wipe them

with Vester, but both nod in reluctant agreement. They know the lengths I'll go to for her—have seen firsthand the fire that burns within