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."

admit that it just feels like the guy might be one. His skin is strange and his eyes look glassy,

of government. This is what they've been working on. This is why the

her belly, a protective gesture that makes my heart ache.

the previous administration conveniently eliminated. Not only

government know about Wolf's Landing?" I know that wolf packs are highly regulated by the government, but I didn't even know safe havens existed before everything

"No."

goodness," the healer

The question comes out harsher than I mean for it to, and I backpedal quickly. "I mean, what do we need to change now that

trying to keep me at

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,

moving soldiers around. We need to stay close to Wolf's

made good progress with supplies," I point out. We have a stockpile. This is what we've

watch what unfolds." Lucas' voice carries that edge of authority that means his mind is made up. "We need to see

forms in my stomach as I consider the situation even

hunting down any supernatural who refuses to fall in line

my bones spreads deeper. "But Westwood is accepted by the government. We're part of

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

attacked

they? Or did we steal their beta's daughter and force