Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 227 Lucas: War Is Here (II)

Knowing Ava is relatively safe, even if I have to rely on strangers to keep her that way, lifts a giant boulder of worry from my shoulders.

My wolf, of course, paces in the back of my mind, snapping at the air, frustrated with me. With her. With everything.

She's too far, he growls. We should be with her, not here.

The same complaints I've heard since I let her return to Blackwood. It's like a madness in my mind, the desire to rush to her side and drag her back home, damn the consequences.

The only reason he kept quiet during the Council's visit is because he didn't want any of those alphas near her. He's still upset over Clayton, though our wolves seemed to have reached some sort of truce between us.

The fact that Clayton's given way with such grace probably helps.

Alpha, there's another group of wolves moving in from the southwest. I've dispatched scouts to check on them, but I have a feeling that these are Whispering Pines wolves, not rogues. Ryder's voice intrudes on my musings, quieting my wolf for a moment.

Got it.

Frustrated, I rub my hands over my face. The Council had met one last time, to work over the logistics of moving forces and how to handle the distribution of our fighters and leaders to avoid conflict. Instead, Alpha Talon had come in with a declaration that the Council had overstepped, throwing a verbal bomb into the middle of an already volatile situation.

With the suspicious timing of multiple rogue wolf raids on my people mere hours after he denounced the Council and said his pack would no longer be a part of tyranny, we've had no rest.

It's like a leaking boat, only we can't find the damn leaks.

I shove my phone into my pocket, my jaw clenched tight, as I head for the large office where the Council has been meeting. My wolf paces restlessly in my mind, agitated by the distance from Ava and the looming threats.

as she leans over the large map spread across the table. She looks up, greeting me with

grim note. "A pack of scouts has been sent to the southwest, near the human territories. A large group of wolves was spotted traveling through the

map. "My Delta's informed me.

trace the likely path of the newcomers, and I feel a growl building in my chest

Pines," I mutter, frustration coloring my

Lucas, there's no going back. This will

duplicity of Alpha Talon burns in my gut. I'd never trusted the man, but this level of

asks, her keen eyes studying my face.

thought him capable of. I never thought he would side with Renard over the established territories. It seems too risky of

her fingers tracing the border between our territories on the map. "I can't in good conscience approve a war without absolute proof

of stress and worry, snaps. "Then leave," I growl, meeting her gaze with a hard stare. "If you can't handle the blood on your hands, go. I won't wait for

is heavy, charged with tension. Alpha Twilight Ridge holds my gaze, neither backing down nor rising to the challenge. After a

she says softly. "Twilight Ridge won't abandon Westwood in your time of need. We

her words without comment. She turns back to the

"I wonder what he did to get into Alpha Talon's head. What could have

greed for power.

her eyes sharp. "And you think this is it?

Blackwood in chaos and Westwood distracted, he probably thinks he can make a move. Expand his territory, maybe even challenge for leadership of the Council. Either that, or he's working with

muses. "If he fails, he

succeeds, he gains more than he's ever had," I counter. "For someone

wolf growls in the back of my mind, urging action, demanding we protect what's ours. It takes effort to keep

Lucas?" Alpha Twilight Ridge asks, breaking the

working through strategies. "We wait for confirmation from the scouts. If it is Talon's wolves, we move to intercept them before they can breach our territory. I won't give him the