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.

Council, isn't convinced that there's a concern to the

as simple as reinforcing our boundaries in Blackwood and Westwood. As

everything inside of me, inside my wolf, screams that

wrong.

a war coming 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

just the beginning. A first strike

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 side

meeting back on

34:52

2/5

your request aga,

to my feet, the chair groani across the floor.

to me.

stalemate needs

ener mment on

react. It's the first steps of war. We are all at risk. Westwood is nothing

end of the table-neutral party in Alpha

and that bastard Blackwood,

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

true colors of late, despite having helped Xavier during my attack on Blackwood. Of course, then we had only asked him to turn a blind eye. Here, we're

both sides of the story, refusing

is also

the most, instead of acting in the

out of line and suddenly

202 Lucas: Council (0)

I'm surprised they haven't all turned into dust. With

a moment."

back the growl

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

for two goddamn days, falling on deaf