Tangled

121 Lucas Sell Searching

121 Lucas: Still Searching

LUCAS

Being away from Ava is torture, but the random photo updates from Kellan help ease the ache in my heart. And the wolf snarling in my head.

He’s pissed that we’re far from her again, logic and reasoning be damned. And if I hear one more word. about that damn dog, Selene–I don’t even know what

I’ll do.

I can feel his frustration case as we stare at the photo Kellan texted me; she’s exhausted, her cheeks red with

exertion and her bangs damp against her head.

She hasn’t been wearing her glasses. Two days after her discharge, she’d complained about them making her vision blurry.

Vanessa and Dr. Beaumont are certain it’s a sign that her wolf is awakening, but Ava had taken the news in stride, asking no questions.

Her disinterest worries me; to be wolfless is a curse among our people. To know that her wolf might come?

<121 Lucas: Still Searching

She should be over the moon, praising the Goddess for such a blessing. And yet Ava acts as though it doesn’t involve her.

Dr. Beaumont says it’s probably a trauma response to her life in the Blackwood Pack, but I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something more to all of this.

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter. As long as she’s safe and happy, I won’t ask for much more. It was hard to watch her as she lay in her hospital bed, day after day. Hard to watch as the nurses bathed her with gentle hands. Hard to watch as her cheeks thinned, even with the intravenous nutrition they’d started her on after three days.

Losing her would mean losing everything. I can’t survive in this world knowing she isn’t in it.

Simple daily activities like basic hygiene were out; no showers, and meals were only taken because Kellan would bring food and stand watch until I ate it. Lisa wouldn’t eat until I did, and I remember thinking that

Ava would kill me if her human friend starved to death

because I was too sick at the thought of losing her.

The entire world could burn, as

13:41

2/8

Lucas: Still Searching

her side.

up for me, but I have a lot to

territory, daydreaming about my fated

I want

“Alpha?”

Shit.

my thoughts away from Ava takes too much effort, but I focus again on the man in front of me. Vester’s mild exasperation is

his brow, but he

“Yes?”

“The report…”

cut him off before he can continue.

me.”

straightens, clearing his

some reports that a woman resembling the description

to the eastern

13:41

3/8

Lucas: Still

borders.”

The Unregistered Communities.

words for vampire

packs are, they do not have control over every bit of land. There are registered supernatural communities under Supernatural Committees, all who work with the packs within their

there are the Unregistered.

the control of vampires, who see little reason to live in peace with humans.

of a massive war, there’s no way to erase these communities from the world. There are too many, and

shithead Renard work with them, with his

13:41.

Lucas: Still Searching

erase him from our world, my wolf growls. He’s bloodthirsty enough to challenge the entire pack, seeing little benefit from saving those who watched as Ava was abused.

not to agree

rub my brow with one finger, a heavy sigh escaping my lips. Frustration settles into my gut like a meal of spoiled fish, sending nausea through me

scouts

“We’ve

lives, gone. Two more families left to mourn, all

slamming my fist on the table. The wood cracks under the force, splinters digging into my skin. I barely feel the sting, too consumed by the