Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 57 Ava: Stunned

I scream, my voice raw with terror as the door beside me is wrenched open. Before I even look, I throw a punch in their direction.

But it's not one of the armed assailants—it's Phoenix.

My brother's face is set in grim lines, his mouth a tight slash of determination. My fist is held by his hand as though I'm a child throwing a tantrum—with the ease of someone far more powerful than me.

He lets go and cuts my seatbelt with a knife before grabbing me in an almost painful grip.

Ivy is still slumped in the backseat beside me, a trickle of blood oozing from the gash on her forehead. She's completely still, her head lolling at an unnatural angle.

My stomach roils violently, and I have to swallow back a surge of nausea. Is she...?

"She's alive," Phoenix says gruffly, as if reading my mind. "For now."

"Come on, we have to move," he growls, already tugging me out of the wrecked sedan.

I stumble after him in a daze, my mind whirling. Phoenix? Here? How—?

What's happening, Ava? Selene's voice, taut with concern, rings in my head.

I shake my head mutely, too shaken to articulate a response. Phoenix is already hustling me towards one of the blue sedans idling in front of Ivy's car. The driver, a tall, powerfully-built shifter I don't recognize, jumps out and rushes to open the rear door.

"Get in," Phoenix barks at me, giving me a firm shove towards the open door.

I scramble inside without protest, my entire body quivering with a bone-deep chill. The rear door slams shut, and Phoenix is already circling around to the passenger side. "Airport," he snaps at the driver as he clambers inside. "And step on it."

squeal of tires, the force slamming me back against the

with a rare edge of panic. What's going on?

the driver crumpling to the ground is seared into

enough. It was

one who pulled me out of the car…

to compose myself. I'd tried so hard to

presence wrapping around me like a soothing balm. It's okay, Ava.

time. We're heading for the airport. That means they're going to fly me back to

have more people. They have cars. They have guns. Ones

raking over me,

his stare, keeping my expression carefully neutral. "Probably because I've been living with other shifters," I lie. "The girl in the car

tightening into a grim line. "No, it's different. More than

knows about

else does he

evenly, lying through my teeth. He knows damn well I don't have a wolf of my own,

the front. I let out a slow, shaky breath and lean back against the couch, cursing

got that damn burner

just started getting comfortable, expecting to be able to go home at some

And now this.

for having a few

this whole time?" Phoenix asks, breaking the silence

tell if he's asking me a trick question to see if

hope he