Ava: Mira's Choice

"This wasn't how our trip was supposed to go," Vanessa murmurs, watching as an entire horde of wolves descend upon us.

Vester leads them all. Apparently there was a huge ruckus over the position, but Lucas lost because he was terrible at rock-paper-scissors. (I didn't know important things could be decided by a fist or two fingers, but there it is.)

Instead, our venerable Alpha—my beloved mate—sent orders in no uncertain terms. Get Ava's ass home as soon as possible, taint be damned. According to Vester, that's a direct quote.

Until we know what's going on, it's too unsafe for me to be far from Wolf's Landing.

It's a typical Lucas move, but I can't disagree with the decision, even as my stomach churns at the idea of leaving that dense patch of corruption behind.