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."

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

and discuss the nature

happening. Ava says the taint has gathered and become dense. The radios have gone silent. It's been too peaceful for too long, and now this attack by the Mad Prince." Drumming my fingers against the table, I lean

no suspicious 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 to

Isn't it what stopped them?" Ryder is skeptical; he doesn't have the same view as

learned to

snow slows everyone down—rogues, vampires, and humans. With the lack of easy communication and

and I assumed our

One that we decided must be correct after months of peace. "What

"It would be clever. We've gotten comfortable thinking the weather protects us, waiting for

We're housing refugees. Our supplies are stretched thin. The cold makes it harder to hunt,

harder to evacuate if needed." Ryder stops his pacing. "We're all concentrated in one place, trying

people close, thinking it safer. Instead, have we

attacked Lisa's group moved fine in the snow. They weren't slowed down at all.

they were enhanced by the taint?" Ryder offers; it's more of a statement than a question, but it's

"The corruption changes them. Makes them

impossible to sit still as we discuss this; I'm full of energy, wanting to rush out on a hunt of my own. Instead we're all sitting here in this tent, spending the morning

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

our musings. "We know to be wary. Let's shelve that for now. Ryder, take a team to Jericho, with a little more food. See what you

"Understood."

have you heard from

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

They need to be

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

and would make someone a wonderful mate one day. A strong hunter, well-versed in pack politics, with