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.

our strongest 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

Westwood. As sending a few troops of fighters to

of me, inside

wrong.

for 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 and fight when we're vulnerable, caught

just the beginning. A first strike in a war that can bring us

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

clears his throat, his rumbling baritone cutting through the murmured

this meeting back on track. We've argued

34:52

2/5

request aga, and

chair groani

to me.

stalemate needs to

ener mment on

first steps of war. We are all at risk. Westwood is

end of the table-neutral party in Alpha Ezekial Talon of

bastard Blackwood, with his

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

despite having helped Xavier during my attack on Blackwood. Of course, then we had only

sounds moral. Waiting to hear both sides of the story, refusing to take sides

neutrality is

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

diawls. "A few Unregistereds step out

202 Lucas: Council (0)

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

a moment."

fists, biting back the growl building in my

"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.

we've been making for two goddamn days,