LUCAS

    The highway flies by in a blur of white lines and endless pine forests as I grip the steering wheel tightly with one hand, the other holding a cigarette I shouldn''t be having. I quit smoking a long time ago, but the past forty-eight hours have been hell.

    I didn''t get to see Ava for a couple days after flying out when I got the news that our scout was murdered, his body hanging between the Blackwood and Westwood territories. I don''t even know what Ava thought of my note taped to her dining table, explaining that I''d be back as soon as I could.

    Is she grateful I''m not there? Or is she missing me?

    My cell phone is pressed between my ear and shoulder while I shout into it in between puffs of the cancer-causing burn stick I''ve been craving for the past twenty miles.

    "I don''t give a flying fuck, Kellan," I growl, cutting off his protest. "I''m not leaving Washington for the next three days, so don''t even fucking think about calling me back there."

    "Lucas, come on. The Blackwoods—"

    "Aren''t going to do anything first." My jaw clenches as I take a sharp turn, tires screeching. "You know they''re trying to bait us into the first move. We have no proof the Blackwoods killed him. Until we do, we can''t do shit. And since we can''t do shit, I need to see Ava."

    "You''re playing a dangerous game, Alpha." Kellan''s sigh crackles through the speaker. "If Blackwood finds out you''re sniffing around Grey''s daughter..."

    "He''ll what? Start a war?" I let out a harsh laugh. "He won''t alienate his allies. He''s hoping they''ll help him when the war comes. He won''t take the first step."

    "It changes everything and you know it."

    I can practically hear Kellan''s disapproved frown. He''s been frustrated, saying my obsession with Ava keeps me too far from the pack and the issues going on there.

    He''s not wrong, but nothing is more important than my mate.

    I need to bring her home. Once I do that, everything will fall into place.

    "I''m going to make things right with her, Kell." My voice softens as I picture Ava''s face, those wide blue eyes that so easily sucker-punch me with so many feelings. "I''m finally making progress. I''m going to fix this."

    "And if she doesn''t want you back?"

    The question hangs heavy in the air, but I refuse to consider the possibility. Ava and I are meant to be together. I can feel it in my bones, in the way my wolf howls for her.

    Or is it something more sinister?

    Shit—has Blackwood found her? Those assholes have been looking for her, like they finally realized what they lost.

    "I don''t know where she is," I admit, my voice rough. "I''ve been out of town for a few days. Fuck, I should have been here."

    Mrs. Elkins leans forward, her eyes narrowed. "Lucas, I need you to be straight with me. Is Ava a packless shifter?"

    The question catches me off guard, and I blink at her in surprise. "What makes you ask that?"

    "The shifter presence in Cedarwood has been... strange lately. A lot of rogues, a lot who aren''t from the Aspen pack. They''re always around. I''ve seen the way they look at The Novel Grind, like they''re searching for something. Or someone."

    I run a hand through my hair, my mind racing. If other shifters are sniffing around, it can only mean one thing—they''re looking for Ava. But why? And who? There''s only one answer: Blackwood. No one else would know anything about her.

    Fuck.

    "Yes," I finally answer, seeing no point in lying. "Ava is a shifter. She should be part of my pack, but—"

    Mrs. Elkins nods. She already knows. "I had a feeling. But Lucas, if she''s caught up in something dangerous..."

    "I''ll find her," I vow, my voice fierce. "I won''t let anything happen to her."

    I stand abruptly, my chair scraping against the hardwood floor. I need to get out there, to track down any lead I can find. Every minute Ava''s missing is another minute she could be in danger.

    "Keep this between us for now," I tell Mrs. Elkins, my tone brooking no argument. "I don''t want to cause a panic. If anyone asks, just say Ava''s out sick."

    She nods, her expression grim. "Of course. But Lucas, be careful. Whatever''s going on, it feels bigger than just Cedarwood."

    I give her a tight smile, already heading for the door. "I know. But I''ll do whatever it takes to bring her home safe."

    I need to call Kellan.

    It''s time for war. I need to get my mate back.