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 distant from each

to Jericho, his

Miriam's appearance, her cryptic warning, the oddly incapacitated

the room like a caged predator. "She's toying with

his breath, "Raised

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

his weakness when

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

eyes flashing. "How can you say that? With this

plenty of opportunities 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 hindering

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

fight drains out of 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

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

"Jesus, Dad, not now—"

he eyes Kellan, a low growl rumbling from his

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

but the animosity lingers, simmering just beneath the surface. One

furrowed. "What do you mean, we're too complacent? We've been

alert? Your borders are as porous as a sieve, and

and you do nothing to learn about them. Just throw more guards around and hope

what do you suggest?" Lucas asks,

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