Tangled

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170 Lucas: Rites

LUCAS

"Everything's ready for the pack rites, but are you sure our Luna won't be there?"

Delta Ryder looks as exhausted as feel. Aside from the moments I stole to be with Ava at the expense of my pack duties, I've had no sleep or rest.

My wolf has been silent in my head since she left. We don't have the connection that Ava seems to have with Selene-

our conversations aren't as in depth, and he doesn't feel like a completely separate entity as their bond is-but he still feels the loss of his pack children keenly.

He doesn't even have a name, and I can't believe I've never asked

him about it.

I've always called him my wolf.

"No. She's intending to visit with her mother again and see if she can glean any more information." Not that I'm sure why. I want to tell Kellan to drag her back to Westwood at all costs, but that's a terrible way to Despite having a magnet for trouble, I need to let her make decisions for herself.

Rubbing between my eyebrows, I shuffle through more reports. Another dead scout, though we can't find his body.

Ryder has a few humans he trusts in the Unregistered city, but we

17:30 - 0

15

170 LUCA Rame

have no word from them and no way to check on them. They don't

mind link like

is limited by distance, but still

wolf packs. Even the rogue shifters allowed within their city lin Ryder's tension

Nothing.

lead outside of what

rumor on this Mad Prince?

exists," Ryder agrees quietly. "Are you absolutely positive on

unable to contain the flare of irritation at a delta daring

no idea

has my mental hackles rippling. "I didn't

at my beard. and lean back in my chair, the weight of responsibility crushing my chest. After a

17:39

☐☐☐☐☐☐☐ CT

"Stand at ease, Ryder."

me about the pack

too soon.

during the service. Ryder's voice is steady, but I can see the pain in his eyes. "Your funeral clothes are ready for you in your qu Fury lashes through me, hot and sharp. All those innocent lives lost, and for what? I

have been calling every few hours for updates." His too-calm words pull me from my

call them in the morning." Even though we have no news, no hope to give them. Their daughter is still missing, likely suffering at the hands of a sadistic vampire, a "They insist on

me. "I'll talk to them." Though I already know what a

equipped to handle this

if the Granite City police-who are well aware of their jurisdiction and would only send someone sensitive to

170 1ess Brand

at play-were to join the investigation, it

as nothing more

human can investigate

more bodies to add to the death toll, and the Unregistered

door.

the investigation is likely to have a hard time," Ryder points out, echoing

my frayed nerves getting the better of me. Taking a deep breath, I force myself to relax. "I'm sorry, Ryder. I shouldn't take

strain on his face. We're all pushed to our limits, desperate for a break in the case, some way to strike back at the monsters who did

"I'm going to check on the preparations