Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 390 Lucas: What's Going On?

LUCAS

I rub my temples, staring at the radio equipment spread across my desk. Static crackles through the speakers, a sound that's become far too familiar these past days.

"Nothing." Ryder switches the dial again. "Dead air on every emergency frequency. Been like this for a few days now."

Vester crosses his arms. "That's what worries me most. The humans have been relying on their radios to stay organized; why would it go silent now?"

My wolf paces beneath my skin, sensing a storm on the horizon. "And Jericho's message?"

"Just as I said." The healer's mate pulls out a crumpled note. "'Be alert.' His vampire contacts are usually more specific. I can only assume that it's a gut feeling on their side, as well."

"Given the recent attack, we can assume—" Ryder begins, and I already know where he's going. To tie Jericho's vampire refugees with the Mad Prince; it's something everyone's already thinking, and I can't deny that it would make sense. But in my gut, I know it's wrong.

"Enough." My words are sharper than I mean for them to be, but both my deltas are used to that. "Jericho should be here. His insight with the vampires could prove invaluable."

Ryder scoffs. "If we could even trust his friends. Who knows? Maybe one of them is related to the Mad Prince. How else would they know he's on the move?"

"Jericho's contacts aren't affiliated with that monster. The warning came after our contact with his thrall."

"Can we be certain? The world's gone dark, Alpha. For all we know, those vampires aren't even in hiding. Maybe they're trying to use Jericho to get to us."

The pack's bias against bloodsuckers is one that won't disappear anytime soon. There are many who still look at Sister Miriam with some suspicion, and her recent disappearance has only heightened those feelings.

Of course, I've learned that not all vampires are evil as we always understood them to be.

"We can't afford to alienate potential allies. This is no simple territory war."

calm voice sides with Ryder. He's been more cautious since the betrayals from our own pack members. "Though I

was hoping to see Jericho in person and discuss the nature of his vampire friends, but with

been too peaceful for too long, and now this attack by the Mad Prince." Drumming my fingers against the table, I lean back

activity in the last few days. The patrols report nothing but snow and more snow. Animal activity seems normal, and the human cities still seem

our favor. Isn't it what stopped them?" Ryder is skeptical; he doesn't have the same view as I do. He thinks the Mad Prince's attack is

we've all learned to assume

slows everyone down—rogues, vampires, and humans. With the lack of easy communication and the severe winter conditions, we assumed all the attacks stopped due

I assumed our enemies would wait for

an assumption, anyway. One that we decided must be correct after months of

be clever. We've gotten comfortable thinking the weather protects us, waiting

at our situation. We're housing refugees. Our supplies are stretched thin.

harder to evacuate if needed." Ryder stops his pacing.

gathered our people close, thinking it safer. Instead, have we made ourselves an easier target? That might be

in the snow. They weren't slowed down at all. They were shifted, but that doesn't

the taint?" Ryder offers; it's more of a statement than a

he thinks. "The corruption

on a hunt of my own. Instead we're all sitting here in this tent,

thoughts. "Our Luna says the taint is gathering. Getting denser. They went almost a full day without finding any corruption, until

wary. Let's shelve that for now. Ryder, take a team to Jericho, with a little more food. See what you can glean from the vampires he's working with, and update him on

"Understood."

have you heard from the

the midnight check-in, and there were no issues then. Ivy should be checking in sometime early this afternoon. If they are making good time, she should

They need to be on opposite ends of my cabin. There are too many rumors about

to know, with how frequently wolves gossip. Too many seem to be under the impression that I would be willing to take

day. A strong hunter, well-versed in pack politics, with ties to one