Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 185 Ava: Can't Sacrifice the Pack for One Person

"I don't mind sacrificing my life for Lisa's. But I can't sacrifice this pack for her. I'm struggling to know how to juggle these feelings."

The truth has my shoulders sagging, but he only nods.

"Responsibility will always be a shackle to your decisions. It's a good lesson to learn."

"Better if I'd learned it before lives were lost," I mutter, full of self-deprecation.

"Sit up straight," Jericho snaps, his voice cracking like a whip. "Feeling sorry for yourself doesn't help anyone."

My spine stiffens even as I flinch, scrambling to obey the older wolf before my brain catches up to his demands.

Training is a scary thing.

Selene's ears perk up, and his head swivels toward the door. A few seconds later, I hear the thud of approaching footsteps. Jericho grunts, "That alpha sure took his sweet time."

The door bursts open, and Lucas strides in, Kellan at his heels.

Lucas's amber eyes lock onto me, wild and desperate, and he rushes to my side. His hands skim over my arms, my face, as if reassuring himself I'm unharmed.

"Are you okay? Did the vampire hurt you?" His words tumble out in a frantic rush, even though I'm sure he's been informed of my safety several times.

"I'm fine," I assure him, catching his hands in mine. "Nothing even happened to me."

greets his father with a cool nod, a wordless exchange passing between them. They're both stiff and standoffish, staying

his brow furrowed. "What

clipped tones—Sister Miriam's appearance, her cryptic warning, the oddly incapacitated guards. Lucas's face

the room like a caged

under his breath, "Raised an

in them. Lucas is letting his emotions cloud his judgment, jumping to

seems to be his weakness when

sure," I say softly, reaching for Lucas's hand. "Sister Miriam's motives are

me, his eyes flashing. "How can you say that? With

to hurt me, but she hasn't," I argue, my voice gaining strength. "She's cryptic and frustrating, but I don't believe she's our enemy. She's warning us, not

can't afford to make assumptions. We need more information before

Running a hand through his hair, he growls, "I know.

you both a thousand times, never become complacent in the power of the pack. Get too proud, and you'll be brought to your

"Jesus, Dad, not now—"

curls as he eyes Kellan, a low growl

with tension, their wolves bristling beneath the surface as Kellan stiffens, his shoulders squaring. He meets his father's gaze head-on, and dominance radiates off them in

steps between them, his own power flaring to life. "Enough," he commands, his

back down, but the animosity lingers, simmering just beneath the surface. One day, I'll

you mean, we're too

head. "High alert? You call this high alert? Your borders are as porous as a sieve, and you're letting your emotions cloud your judgment. Vampires aren't like shifters. They're not

learn about them. Just throw more guards around and hope it

you suggest?" Lucas asks, his

need to use every resource at your disposal. Including the ones you're not