Tangled

Unshift 202

Unshift 202

202 Lucas: Council (1)

Alphas arguing with alphas is nothing but a waste of time.

The dregs of cold coffee stick in my throat as I set my mug down with a thud. Fuck. I'm exhausted. My eyelids feel like sandpaper against my eyes, and I rub at them with the futile hope of easing the discomfort.

Forty-eight hours.

Two damn days since I've seen the inside of my eyelids for more

then a blink

I haven't had a chance to even speak a single word with Ava. Not

even a text

It's impossible to keep her a secret forever, but without knowing how far I can trust these other alphas-bringing her into this mess

is a risk I refuse to take.

The last thing I need is for the Council to push back and demand that Ana be returned to Alpha Blackwood in order to prevent any more vampire attacks.

Jericho's worries have set root in my belly, growing an entire forest of doubt and concern. He's right. Ara's not enough of a reason to Breach the peace we've upheld for so long Far longer than any of our lifetimes

There's something else there. Something I was too blind to see. And we need to act. *

Now. Before any other tragedies come to be.

The stink of unrest taints the air, setting my teeth on edge.

I glance across the conference table, meeting Clayton's steely gaze. He's been the ally in my corner, standing steadfast beside me in my

concerns.

strongest ally in the Council, isn't convinced that there's a concern to the entire

as reinforcing our boundaries in Blackwood and Westwood. As sending a few troops of fighters to shore up our

everything inside of me, inside my wolf, screams that

wrong.

us, and anyone who isn't ready will be slaughtered without a chance to fight back. We've already witnessed how easily they can invade our lands

as brass, are just the beginning. A first strike

bastards? It's like herding cats. Suspicious, prideful, territorial cats, who'd rather bury their heads in the sand

rumbling baritone cutting

back on track.

34:52

2/5

request aga,

feet, the chair groani across the floor. All

to me.

needs

mment on

react. It's the first steps of

of the table-neutral party in Alpha

Blackwood,

gray in his hair with wrinkles and scars all across his face. Even so, it's a testament to his power that no alpha challenge has unseated him in

his true colors of late, despite having helped Xavier during my attack on Blackwood. Of course, then we had only asked him to

hear both sides of the story, refusing to take sides

neutrality is also

to see what benefits his pack the most, instead of acting in the best

few Unregistereds step out of

202 Lucas: Council (0)

little sanctuaries for so long, I'm surprised they haven't all turned

a moment."

the growl building in my

different this time," Clayton interjects smoothly. "They're able to move without detection, to appear and disappear at will. They're striking without warning, and we have no way of fighting back.

for two goddamn days, falling on