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.

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

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

of me, inside

wrong.

to fight back. We've already witnessed how easily they can invade our lands and fight when we're vulnerable, caught with our fucking

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

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

rumbling baritone cutting through the

meeting back on track.

34:52

2/5

aga, and

my feet, the chair groani

to me.

stalemate needs to

ener mment

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 first step to whatever goal

the end of the table-neutral party in Alpha Ezekial

Blackwood, with his

so, it's

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

sides of the story,

neutrality is also

what benefits his pack the most, instead

Westwood," he diawls. "A few Unregistereds step out of line and suddenly it's Armageddon? We've

202 Lucas: Council (0)

been holed up in their little sanctuaries for so long, I'm surprised they haven't all

a moment."

my fists, biting back the growl building

without detection, to appear and disappear at will. They're striking without warning, and we have no way of fighting back. No matter

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