Tangled

170

170

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

link like we

by

city of vampires is as modern as they come and do business with the outside world, they are almost 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

Nothing.

lead outside of what Ava's learned from her little

on this Mad

even verify he exists," Ryder agrees quietly. "Are you absolutely

unable to contain the flare of irritation at a delta

no idea who gave me

up in a placating gesture that has my mental hackles rippling.

back in my chair, the weight of

17:39

☐☐☐☐☐☐☐ CT

"Stand at ease, Ryder."

the pack rites?" The words feel like

too soon.

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

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

give them. Their daughter is still missing, likely suffering at the hands of a sadistic vampire, a "They

escapes me. "I'll talk to them." Though I already know what a disaster that will be. Humans have

They're not equipped to handle this

are well aware of their jurisdiction

170 1ess Brand

at play-were to join

nothing more than

investigate a

bodies to add to the death toll, and the Unregistered don't

door.

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

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

but I can see the strain on his face. We're all pushed to our limits, desperate for a break in the case,

do something. "I'm going to check on