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."

them. They're both stiff and standoffish, staying distant from each other, tension all over their

his brow

oddly incapacitated guards. Lucas's face darkens with each word, a growl rumbling

we couldn't trust her," he snarls, pacing the room like a caged predator. "She's

his breath, "Raised

I can't deny the truth in them. Lucas is letting his emotions cloud his judgment, jumping to

be his weakness when I'm

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

"How can

opportunities to hurt me, but she hasn't," I argue, my voice gaining strength. "She's cryptic and frustrating, but I

clears his throat, drawing our attention. "Ava's right. We can't afford to make assumptions. We need more

Lucas, and his shoulders sag a little beneath the weight of this past week. Running a hand through his hair, he growls, "I know. I just—fuck. These damn bloodsuckers keep coming onto my lands, and I don't

the

"Jesus, Dad, not now—"

lip curls as he eyes Kellan, a low growl rumbling from his

surface as Kellan stiffens, his shoulders squaring. He meets his father's gaze head-on, and dominance radiates off them

steps between them, his own power flaring to life. "Enough," he commands, his voice ringing with authority.

simmering just beneath the surface. One day, I'll learn more about this history between them, but now

turns to Jericho, his brow furrowed. "What do you mean, we're too

as porous as a sieve, and you're letting your emotions cloud your

about them. Just throw more guards around and

what do you suggest?" Lucas asks, his

eye. "You need to use every resource at your disposal. Including the ones