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

like

is limited by

completely closed to any of the large wolf packs. Even the rogue shifters allowed within their city lin Ryder's tension in front of my desk tells me everything I need to know about the contents of

Nothing.

a single lead

rumor on

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

contain the flare of irritation at a delta daring

has no idea who gave me

that has my mental hackles rippling.

from my throat as I scratch at my beard. and lean back in my chair, the weight of responsibility crushing my chest. After a few

17:39

☐☐☐☐☐☐☐ CT

"Stand at ease, Ryder."

"What else can you tell me about the pack rites?" The

too soon.

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 nothing to tell their families, no justice to offer them. No way to ease their

updates." His too-calm words pull me from my

a hand over my face. "I'll call them in the morning." Even though we have no news, no hope to give them. Their daughter is still

talk to them." Though I already know what a disaster

to handle

aware of their jurisdiction

170 1ess Brand

to join the investigation,

more than a

human can investigate

only asking for more bodies to add to the death toll, and the Unregistered don't play nicely with any government entity at

door.

have a hard time," Ryder points out,

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

see the 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

do something. "I'm going to check on the preparations for