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.

as simple as reinforcing our boundaries in Blackwood and Westwood.

me, inside my wolf, screams

wrong.

fight back. We've already witnessed how easily they can invade our lands and fight when we're

beginning. A first strike in a war

cats. Suspicious, prideful, territorial cats, who'd rather

rumbling baritone cutting

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

34:52

2/5

aga, and we'll vote

to my feet, the chair groani across the floor.

to me.

needs

mment

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

table-neutral party in Alpha Ezekial Talon of Whispering

and that bastard Blackwood, with

scars all across his face. Even so, it's a testament to his power that no alpha challenge has unseated

my attack on Blackwood. Of course, then we had only asked him to turn a blind

both sides of the story, refusing to take

neutrality is

benefits his pack the most, instead of acting in the

"A few Unregistereds step out of line and

202 Lucas: Council (0)

so long, I'm surprised they haven't all turned into dust. With our

a moment."

the growl

appear and disappear at will. They're striking without warning, and we

argument that we've been making for two goddamn days, falling on deaf