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."

It 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 in

stays measured, diplomatic. "Please take care of her. The

as I motion for him to take over, "We still have no leads on your lost

appreciate it. Thank

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

the paper. It sounds like this taint has spread farther than we realized.

provocation, without pattern. No interest in territory or resources. It's pure aggression. We are doing our best to keep it contained." A pause.

sensing the weight in Rowan's words. Aurum has been silent of late. Sleeping, like

appeared to be Fae representatives. They're searching for someone." The staticky words are hesitant. Cautious. "The description

hackles raise as he growls in the back

a meeting with Alpha Shadowpine

urge to destroy something rises in my chest. The mere thought of anyone hunting Ava sets my teeth on edge.

All wore cloaks." Rowan's voice carries a note of

"Names?"

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

don't

off. I thought you should know, given your Luna's...

we don't have enough to deal with already.

"Of course, Alpha Westwood."

wolf paces beneath my skin, agitated by this new development. Anyone seeking Ava is

"Lucas," Kellan starts.

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

a word. Even though she's probably drowning in guards already. We could send out several scouting parties with the amount

thought, I glance

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 route where Ryder disappeared. "This timing is

his weight. "You still want to lead the search party for

her. But they're in Aspen territory, not here. Clayton can handle them for now. And Ryder is one of