Tangled

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186 Ava: Lucas, Short-Sighted

"A war would decimate our world," Kellan says. "The vampires won't take that risk. They're outnumbered by our packs."

"Outnumbered, yet they waltz into our lands as they please and have taken how many of our young lives?" Jericho counters. "Do you even know how many vampires are behind this? Is it one? Or several? And "One, of course-"

"And what are you going to do when only one vampire can breach your defenses so easily? Imagine when twenty of them join hands."

Kellan's mouth snaps closed, and Lucas growls in frustration. "You have something to say, old man. Spit it out.”

"You've been taking this threat too lightly. Too focused on your mate to see the forest for the trees. No vampire would do this for one little thrall. What do they hope to gain by antagonizing our pack?" "They're working with Renard. He's always been out to increase hist land and power."

Jericho's gaze bores into Lucas, a withering stare that seems to strip away years of authority and experience, reducing my mate to nothing more than a foolish pup. The old wolf's words slice.

through the tension like a razor, each syllable dripping with disdain.

"Why in the seven hells would vampires ever ally with an idiot like Renard?"

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The question hangs in the air, a challenge and an accusation all at ence. Lucas stiffens beside me at the challenge, but the old wolf isn't finished.

"Not all vampires live in the Unregistered Communities," Jericho reminds us, his tone sharp with impatience. "Only the ones who refused to submit to human oversight. If those cities are starting to fight back, we

A war between vampires and shifters, spilling out beyond the borders of our territories and into the human world? The thought alone is enough to make my blood run cold.

But Lucas isn't ready to concede the point. "If that's true," he counters, "then why aren't other packs reporting similar issues? Everything that's happened so far can be traced back to Renard's greed for Ava." "Until now." Jericho jabs his thumb over his shoulder, out the window. "They took the bodies tonight. What does that have to do

with Renard or Ava?"

Lucas goes quiet, because we all know there's no answer to that.

Keep your

***

Jericho leave that the

petting Selene

17 BU

27

oblivious to how

the three men, I can see his exhaustion in the wrinkles around the corners of his eyes, the heavy set of his brow, and the tightness arou in

Lucas never took advantage of the resource right in front of him. He should have

he's dismissed as nothing more

all be set aside in order to work together against the enemy. Someone like Jericho should have been leading tonight. It is. odd, his place in

of his embrace envelops me, a momentary respite from

Sister Miriam came?"

my voice barely above a whisper. "But I truly believe

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188 Avi Lucas, Short-Sighted

his arms

choosing my words carefully. "And I'm not sure if it's a plan we should

apart," Lucas mutters, his voice laced with. frustration. "My authority and strength is undermined with these attacks on

his gaze with a reassuring smile. "You're doing great, Lucas. But maybe... Just maybe,

loud, feeling like those waters are too deep

flicker of amusement dances in his eyes, a brief respite from the gravity of our situation. "You just want

Selene sneezes.

starting to understand the immense responsibility you hold, the weight you carry as our alpha." The words tumble out of me, a confession long overdue, as

our fated bond is quiet, content to let the gravity of the moment reign. It's a relief to be close to him without desire

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180 Ava Luns, Short-Sighted

is it because I've finally accepted the bond in its

myself apart from the pack. As your mate, know I fall short.

the corners of my eyes, but I refuse