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."

lungs before exhaling a plume into the stale air. My deltas are on edge, too, but they

at her family home, under

better than to consort with those unwilling to abide by the standards we've set forth in order to live in

Blackwood is truly that much of a dumbass. He has little connection with the humans in his territory. Consorting with an Unregistered is nothing to someone

that taboo and the witness saved after the last attack, we finally

a reason for war. Reasons that will allow the Council to be rebuilt in the aftermath, even as I

for that shit. I

They have no presence in the human cities, and no humans here are loyal to the power of the pack controlling their territory.

allowed so many to settle in these human towns,

Sheer arrogance.

be his downfall

to be quite so easy to infiltrate their lands, but I'm grateful for

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

I'm not stupid. I can't force it. If I have to, I'll bring her back to Cedarwood

allies await the call to arms. But a part of me bristles at the thought of

certain. He wouldn't keep Ava close without good reason. Is there a secret behind her? Something

more

wolf snaps at the air in my mind. He's on

wants his

plans need to

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

have a short fuse when it comes to my mate. "You want to go in

further. This has to be clean, precise. In and out before Blackwood even knows we're there. We don't know what that

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

in reluctant agreement. They know the lengths I'll go to for her—have seen firsthand the fire that burns within me whenever her name is