Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 202 Lucas: Council (I)

Alphas arguing with alphas is nothing but a waste of time.

The dregs of cold coffee stick in my throat as I set my mug down with a thud. Fuck, I'm exhausted. My eyelids feel like sandpaper against my eyes, and I rub at them with the futile hope of easing the discomfort.

Forty-eight hours.

Two damn days since I've seen the inside of my eyelids for more than a blink.

I haven't had a chance to even speak a single word with Ava. Not even a text.

It's impossible to keep her a secret forever, but without knowing how far I can trust these other alphas—bringing her into this mess is a risk I refuse to take.

The last thing I need is for the Council to push back and demand that Ava be returned to Alpha Blackwood in order to prevent any more vampire attacks.

Jericho's worries have set root in my belly, growing an entire forest of doubt and concern. He's right. Ava's not enough of a reason to breach the peace we've upheld for so long. Far longer than any of our lifetimes.

There's something else there. Something I was too blind to see. And we need to act.

Now. Before any other tragedies come to be.

The stink of unrest taints the air, setting my teeth on edge.

table, meeting Clayton's steely gaze. He's been the ally in my corner, standing steadfast beside me

the Council, isn't convinced that there's a concern to the entire territory. Oh,

thinks it's as simple as reinforcing our boundaries in Blackwood and Westwood. As

me, inside my wolf, screams that

be slaughtered without a chance to fight back. We've already witnessed how easily

Westwood territory, bold as brass, are just the beginning. A first strike in a war that can bring

of these stubborn old bastards? It's like herding cats. Suspicious, prideful, territorial cats, who'd rather bury their heads in the sand than acknowledge the danger breathing

baritone cutting

meeting back on track. We've argued enough. Alpha Westwood, state your request again, and

chair groaning across the floor. All eyes

stalemate needs to

our defenses, of our ability to react. It's the first steps

is nothing more than the first step to whatever goal they

Talon of Whispering Pines. He was friend to both Xavier's Silvermoon pack and that bastard

gray in his hair with wrinkles and scars all across his face. Even so, it's a testament to his power that

Xavier during my attack on Blackwood. Of course, then we had only asked him to turn a blind eye. Here, we're

sides of the story,

is

pack the most, instead of acting in