Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 397 Ava: How Long...?

"They'll blame the late president," Kellan says simply. "He's an easy scapegoat. We haven't heard a full list of casualties, but I'm sure very few of his team have been left alive. It'll be easy, and people are desperate. There are already videos of trucks on the road and helicopters landing in Los Angeles and New York. Once they get the aid they desperately need…"

"They're not going to care about the truth as much," Lucas finishes grimly.

A chill creeps through my bones as I watch the screen, and I rub my arms, somehow far colder now than I have been at any point this winter. "Is there any chance the government is actually fighting back against whoever did all of this? That maybe this is legitimate?"

The silence in the tent tells me how naive it is to even hold such a hope. Lucas's arm tightens around my waist, and Kellan's face hardens into stone. Even Vanessa's usual gentle expression turns grim.

"Look at their positioning," Lucas says calmly. "The vampire stands closest to Collins. That's not an accident."

My stomach turns as I study the footage again. "Maybe. Or that just happens to be where he's standing."

I'm not trying to argue, but just holding out that slim thread of hope that our enemies haven't taken over the freaking White House. But it's a weak and flimsy wish. The kind toddlers might beg of while praying to a shooting star.

Nothing but a fairy tale dream.

"Has to be." Kellan reaches over Vanessa and taps the screen where another figure lurks in the shadows. "See that one? Bet it's a thrall."

"How can you tell?"

"I don't know. Just looks like one."

feels like the guy might be one. His skin is strange and his eyes look

of government. This is what they've been working on. This is why the attacks stopped." Lucas grimaces. "It had

taken control of it," Vanessa whispers. Her hand drifts to her belly, a protective gesture that makes my heart ache. "The timing is too perfect. Communications restored, FEMA mobilized, supernatural beings suddenly accepted into government

stiff. "And the previous administration conveniently eliminated. Not only that, they

about Wolf's Landing?" I know that wolf packs are highly regulated by the

"No."

goodness," the healer

it to, and I

he's clearly trying to keep me

Kellan throws his head back to look at the ceiling, his eyes narrowed as he thinks. "Social media's back up. People will share anything strange they see. One wrong photo, one video

caravans they're organizing? Perfect cover for moving soldiers around. We need to stay

point out. We have a stockpile. This is what we've been aiming for since the

Lucas' voice carries that edge of

the situation even further. "Do you think

supernatural who refuses to fall in line

deeper. "But Westwood is accepted by the government. We're part of the Northwestern Council. They can't just turn around and

his golden eyes dark with exhaustion. "Think about it. What's to stop Blackwood from painting us as the aggressors?

attacked us

their beta's daughter and force them