Tangled

6 Lucas: Gala (II)

LUCAS

I stare down at my phone, reading Kellan’s texts with a furrowed brow, tapping my foot against the seat in front of me. I have yet to enter the ballroom, because I don’t like dealing with this kind of shit. The annual fated mate hunt, where barely legal women throw themselves at you in hopes of finding that mystical

connection. Fuck that.

[KELLAN: The Blackwood wolves are here, just as we suspected. There are definitely two daughters. The rumors might be true. I’m going in.]

[KELLAN: Keep an eye on the younger daughter. Something’s off about her relationship with her family. Grey just about threw her away when I came up, and he’s trying to get the older one in my pants.]

I’m surprised. It would make more sense if they had aimed for me, as the alpha, but to send Jessa Grey into Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the FindNʘᴠᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Kellan’s arms…

Unless they wanted another daughter. If Grey didn’t want Kellan anywhere near the other one, perhaps it

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6 Lucas: Gala (II)

was because he had another target in mind.

If both his daughters were mated to the alpha and beta of my pack–yeah, I can see the appeal, if I was a two–headed snake like Grey. He would probably be running my pack within the year, if I were stupid enough to let something like that happen.

He must really think less of me and Kellan for being so young, as if we can only think with our dicks.

Unfortunately for him, I’ve never been tempted to dip mine into poison.

my half–smoked cigarette to the ground and crushing it beneath my heel. Smoke wafts out of the car door before I slam it shut, nodding at the shifters stationed by the entrance to the

to the shadows, avoiding the gazes of the other attendees. The last thing I need is to be accosted by some desperate she–wolf looking for a quick lay or a mating bond. I have more important things to focus on, like

eyes scan the room, searching

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Lucas Gala (II)

doesn’t take long to spot them. Grey stands tall and proud, his chest puffed out like he owns the place. His son, Phoenix, hovers nearby, his expression stoic and unreadable. And

an alliance between our packs. As if I would ever allow that to happen. I may be young, but I’m not stupid. I know better than to trust a pack with a reputation like theirs. Their alpha didn’t even show up, proving that he had little respect for the Council or the other packs within it. Any alliance would be nothing

real question is, why has

turned to us?

and shoot

Kellan.

wearing? I

for his response, my gaze continues to roam the ballroom. And

14:30

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Lucas: Gala (II)

almost hidden in the shadows. Her dark blonde hair falls

the striking blue of her eyes. They’re the lightest shade of blue I’ve ever seen, almost like

ice.

the fabric swirls gently around her hips, giving just

lot.

Classy. Sexy. Mine.

of desire deep in my gut, and my wolf growls in the back of my mind. It’s a sound I’ve never heard before, a primal recognition of something I can’t quite put my finger on. All I know is that I want

to scent her, and my wolf urges me

stick to the shadows and keep my eyes on her. She’s uncomfortable, and walks as though her shoes are foreign, but she’s clearly a little older than most of the first–time

14:37 –

Lucas: Gala

Moon–forsaken matefest.

way that I can see from here, and her head begins to dart around, her brows furrowed. I’m certain she can sense my regard, and my wolf salivates at the idea of the hunt, even as he howls in my head that I need to get my ass closer. Close enough to sniff her, to hold her against my body, to scent her. Only her shoulders and arms are showing in that black dress she

that little hint of