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 agree—having Jericho back

in person and discuss the nature of his vampire friends, but with our

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 back in one

suspicious activity in the last few days. The patrols report nothing but snow and more snow. Animal activity seems normal, and

work in our favor. Isn't it what stopped them?" Ryder is skeptical; he doesn't

all learned to assume

ally these past months. The snow slows everyone down—rogues, vampires, and humans. With the lack of easy communication and the

deltas and I assumed our

must be correct after months of peace. "What if they've been waiting

be clever. We've gotten comfortable

at our situation. We're housing refugees. Our supplies are stretched thin. The cold makes it harder to

pacing. "We're all concentrated in one place, trying to stay

it safer. Instead, have we made ourselves an easier target? That might be

at all. They were shifted, but that doesn't mean they should be able to disappear in

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

thinks. "The corruption changes them. Makes them more aggressive and stronger. Maybe they're

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 in discussions instead

taint is gathering. Getting denser. They went almost a full day without finding any corruption, until this large patch she's trying to clear. That

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 the situation with the Mad

"Understood."

you heard from the Aspen

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

tents. They need to be on opposite ends of my cabin. There

as though I've been unaware of them; it's impossible not to know, with how frequently wolves gossip. Too many seem to be under the impression that I would be

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