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.

the Council, isn't convinced that there's a concern to the entire territory. Oh, he

thinks it's as simple as reinforcing our boundaries in Blackwood and Westwood. As sending a few troops of fighters to shore up our

inside of me, inside my wolf, screams

wrong.

chance to fight back. We've already witnessed how easily they can invade our lands and

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

cats. Suspicious, prideful, territorial cats, who'd rather bury their heads in

clears his throat, his rumbling baritone cutting through the murmured side

this meeting back on

34:52

2/5

aga, and we'll vote

to my feet, the chair groani

to me.

needs

mment on

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

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

Blackwood, with

all across his face. Even so, it's a testament

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

of the story,

is also

the most, instead of acting

step out of line and suddenly it's

202 Lucas: Council (0)

holed up in their little sanctuaries for so long, I'm surprised they haven't all turned into dust. With our numbers and strength, we could crush them

a moment."

fists, biting back the growl building in

"They're able to move without detection, to appear and disappear at will. They're striking without warning, and we have no

that we've been making for