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 territory. Oh,

in Blackwood and Westwood. As sending a few troops

me, inside my wolf,

wrong.

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 with our fucking

crossing into Westwood territory, bold as brass, are just the beginning. A first strike in a war that can bring us all to

cats, who'd rather bury their heads in the sand than acknowledge the danger breathing down our

his rumbling baritone cutting through the murmured

this meeting back on track. We've

34:52

2/5

your request aga,

chair groani across

to me.

needs

ener mment on

of our defenses, of our ability to react. It's the first steps of war.

table-neutral party in Alpha Ezekial Talon of Whispering

and that bastard Blackwood,

Even so, it's a testament to

on Blackwood. Of

sides of

neutrality is

most, instead of acting in

"A few Unregistereds step out of line and suddenly it's Armageddon?

202 Lucas: Council (0)

been holed up in their little sanctuaries for so long, I'm

a moment."

the growl building in my chest. Shortsighted

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. No matter how

that we've been making for two goddamn days,