Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 170 Lucas: Rites

LUCAS

"Everything's ready for the pack rites, but are you sure our Luna won't be there?"

Delta Ryder looks as exhausted as I feel. Aside from the moments I stole to be with Ava at the expense of my pack duties, I've had no sleep or rest.

My wolf has been silent in my head since she left. We don't have the connection that Ava seems to have with Selene—our conversations aren't as in depth, and he doesn't feel like a completely separate entity as their bond is—but he still feels the loss of his pack children keenly.

He doesn't even have a name, and I can't believe I've never asked him about it.

I've always called him my wolf.

"No. She's intending to visit with her mother again and see if she can glean any more information." Not that I'm sure why. I want to tell Kellan to drag her back to Westwood at all costs, but that's a terrible way to keep her trust.

Despite having a magnet for trouble, I need to let her make decisions for herself.

Rubbing between my eyebrows, I shuffle through more reports. Another dead scout, though we can't find his body.

Ryder has a few humans he trusts in the Unregistered city, but we have no word from them and no way to check on them. They don't have a mind link like we do as shifters.

is limited by distance, but still

they are almost completely closed to any of the large wolf packs. Even the rogue shifters allowed within their city limits have no interest in working with an official pack. Bloodshed is more

desk tells me everything I need to know about

Nothing.

this time and we haven't manufactured a single lead outside

can't find even a rumor on this Mad Prince?

even verify he exists," Ryder

grit out, unable to contain the flare of

idea who

go up in a placating gesture that has my mental

my chair, the weight of responsibility crushing my chest. After

immediately, but the tension radiating from him mirrors my own. "What else can you tell me about the pack rites?" The words feel like sandpaper on

hour ago to show solidarity during the service." Ryder's voice is steady, but I can see the pain in his eyes. "Your funeral clothes are ready for

hot and sharp. All those innocent lives lost, and for what? I have nothing to tell their families,

hours for updates." His too-calm words pull me

news, no hope to give them. Their daughter

insist on the local police being part of

know what a disaster that will be. Humans

City police—who are well aware of their jurisdiction and would only send someone sensitive to the supernatural issues at play—were to join the investigation, it would be as nothing