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.

in the Council, isn't convinced that there's a concern to the entire territory. Oh, he believes that there's danger-at

as simple as reinforcing our boundaries in Blackwood and Westwood. As sending a few troops

inside of me, inside

wrong.

all of 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

crossing into Westwood territory, bold as brass, are just the beginning. A first strike in a

stubborn old bastards? It's like herding cats. Suspicious, prideful, territorial cats, who'd rather bury

clears his throat, his rumbling baritone cutting through the

this meeting back on track. We've argued enough.

34:52

2/5

state your request aga,

chair groani across the

to me.

needs to

ener mment on

It's calculated. Deliberate. A test of our defenses, of our ability to react. It's the first steps of war. We are all at risk. Westwood is nothing more than the

of the table-neutral party in Alpha Ezekial Talon of Whispering Pines. He was friend

and that bastard Blackwood, with his

so, it's a testament to his power that no alpha challenge

Of course, then we had only asked him to turn a blind

hear both sides of the story, refusing

is

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

few Unregistereds step out of line and suddenly it's Armageddon? We've

202 Lucas: Council (0)

so long, I'm surprised they haven't all turned into dust. With our numbers and strength, we could crush

a moment."

clench my fists, biting back the growl building in my chest. Shortsighted

will. They're striking without warning, and we have no way of fighting back. No matter how strong

for two