Tangled

Unshift 282

Unshift 282

282 Ava: A Meeting of Allies

Dr. Blackwell-or, as Lisa calls him, the Grand Sage-holds out his hand for a very human handshake, his eyes twinkling in my direction. "It is good to finally meet you, Ava Grey. I've heard so much about you" From who?

"Hello," I offer cautiously, despite knowing he's one of the good ones. His handshake is firm, event if his hand is as small as a child's.

"It will be good for magic to flourish once again," he continues, and I blink.

"Excuse me?"

Dr. Blackwell's words hang in the air, and I'm not sure how to respond. Magic flourishing? What does that even mean? Before I can formulate a coherent question, Kellan clears his throat.

"I apologize for the delay in bringing Dr. Blackwell," he says, his voice oddly stiff.

Lisa's reply is equally stilted. "It's okay."

Their awkward exchange is so unnatural that I have to fake a cough to hide my amused smile. Despite the gravity of our situation, it's almost comical to see them dance around each other like this.

His expression turns serious as he continues. "I was discussing recent events with Dr. Blackwell. The Westwood Pack is caught in the middle of an incredible war that will change our world." Everyone nods solemnly; there's no surprise here.

Still, my stomach twists with anxiety as we put it into words.

continues, "Dr. Blackwell has shed more light on the incident where Delta Ryder's force was nearly obliterated after their first retreat. While he was not the only one to deal with a secondary attack, it was the worst of them. We lost

hands on her

briefed on the situation here. The healer just sighs, looking as though she's aged ten years

turns his attention to Lisa. "Speaking of trust, I must

I struggle to keep my expression neutral as everyone's gaze flicks between Lisa and me. Kellan watches me calmly, but I can see the veins in his

Ava: A Meeting of

is trustworthy, I state firmly,

"Her trustworthiness isn't the issue, but her status

breath, trying to calm the frustration bubbling in my veins. "The number of people we can truly trust is already low. We shouldn't alienate Lisa just because she's human." Marcus inclines his

thoughtfully, his dark eyes hiding whatever thoughts are going on inside his head. As he continues, Lisa leans back against him. "As for the situation within the Westwood Pack since Lucas has been... incapacitated as alpha... He pauses, and I feel my heart clench at the mention of Lucas. "It's been almost impossible to keep alpha challenges at bay. It's only going to get worse now that Ava is here and he is still absent from his

Alpha challenges.

shape to be

wants to challenge him?" My fear takes a sharp left to anger. How dare they? After everything Lucas has done for his pack, after risking his life to save others... Now, he has to worry about

steady and

Shit.

ried!

cuts in, sounding worried. "His healing rate is abysmal. It's human-rate. There are so many theories, the doctors are in knots. They think he's cursed somehow, but no one knows if

unperturbed as several eyes cut in his

curse? What

shakes his frail-seeming head. "I do not know such details. However, I am aware of curses befalling several of Lycan lineage in history, weakening

happened to them?" I ask, desperate