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."

nod, a wordless exchange passing between them. They're both

to Jericho, his brow

Miriam's appearance, her cryptic warning, the oddly incapacitated guards. Lucas's face darkens with each word, a growl

we couldn't trust her," he snarls, pacing the

under his breath, "Raised

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

seems to be his

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

his eyes flashing. "How can you say

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

attention. "Ava's right. We can't afford to make assumptions. We need more information

hand through his hair, he growls, "I know. I just—fuck. These damn bloodsuckers keep coming onto my lands, and I

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

"Jesus, Dad, not now—"

curls as he eyes Kellan, a low growl rumbling from his chest. "Watch

stiffens, his shoulders squaring. He meets his father's gaze head-on, and dominance radiates

he

lingers, simmering just beneath the surface. One day, I'll learn more about this

do you mean, we're too complacent? We've

alert? You call this high alert? Your borders are as porous as a sieve, and you're letting

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

you suggest?" Lucas

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