Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 405 Lucas: News From Aspen

LUCAS

"Too many strange things are happening," my beta mutters, watching our latest group of scouts head off after their report.

"It's unnerving." Vester raps his knuckles against the map in front of us. "Five missing scouts. Ryder's missing in action. There's been no news from Jericho's side in a week. The Aspen scout massacre. Ivy…"

"Something's happening. We need to figure it out."

My fingers rake through my hair as exhaustion settles deep in my bones. The map is little more than a blur in front of my unfocused eyes; I need more sleep. But I don't have time for that.

"We need more teams in these sectors." Vester points to the eastern quadrant. "Three of them went missing somewhere here."

"Three teams of four." Kellan traces a path with his finger. "If we space them out—"

A sharp electronic trill cuts through the air. We all jump, the foreign sound of a ringtone jarring after months of silence. Kellan pulls his phone from his pocket.

"It's Rowan." He taps the speaker button. "Beta Goldstein."

"Beta Ashbourne." Rowan's calm voice fills the tent. "I received your message about Ivy."

"Alpha Shadowpine is not available?"

"Alpha Shadowpine is investigating unusual rogue activity in our territory. He should return tonight to speak with you directly."

The muscles in my jaw tighten. More rogues. More problems. It isn't just us. We're all in danger, but working blind. "Beta Goldstein, Ivy's condition remains uncertain. Our Luna and best healers are working to determine the cause."

"I see. That's unfortunate." The calm in the beta's voice is betrayed by the slight crack in it.

It's tempting to keep more information to myself. After all, we have no proof of anything. Only wild theories. But Clayton—and his pack—are our allies. They deserve nothing less than transparency. "We suspect magical involvement."

isn't the time to say, "I'm sorry your pack members have suffered such tragedies under our protection." That conversation belongs between alphas, not their seconds. The politics of our world demand certain protocols, even

of her. The Aspen

I motion for him to take over, "We still have no leads

Thank

from feral rogues in our territory. They're not acting

sounds like this taint has spread farther than we realized. "Define not

aggression. We are doing our best to keep it contained." A pause. "But that's

the weight in Rowan's words. Aurum has been silent

to be Fae representatives. They're searching

in the back of my

They requested a meeting with Alpha Shadowpine tomorrow. We're not certain

rises in my chest. The mere thought of anyone hunting Ava sets my teeth on edge. But I can't

Rowan's voice carries a note of unease. "Though one detail stood out—their

"Names?"

will attend the meeting, but..." Rowan trails

you don't trust

off. I thought you should

we don't have enough to deal with already. "Keep me updated on the

"Of course, Alpha Westwood."

My wolf paces beneath my skin, agitated by this new development. Anyone seeking Ava is a potential threat until proven

"Lucas," Kellan starts.

I straighten, pushing back the protective rage. "Double the patrols around Ava. No one approaches her

probably drowning in guards already.

off that thought,

Every X marks another dead end. A missing patrol, corruption that hasn't been cleared, scenes of attacks, rogue spottings, and other pieces of this twisted puzzle we can't solve. My fingers trace the

still want to lead the

thoughts drift to Ava, to the mysterious Fae seeking her. But they're in Aspen territory, not here. Clayton can handle them for now. And Ryder is one of mine.