Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 76

Chapter 76 Ava: Saved

Lucas' scent hits me after I've already tried to murder him.

An unmistakable blend of the outdoors, of amber and campfire smoke, of something so uniquely mate that it draws me in even through the pain of our past.

It's him. He's here.

The knife clatters from my trembling hand as every muscle in my body goes lax with relief. I'd been so tense, coiled tight like a spring ready to snap, terrified of losing my life tonight. But now Lucas is here.

He came for me.

"Lucas," I breathe out, hope and prayer all in one, the sound barely more than a whisper. My entire body crumples, overworked in its stress.

He's really here. I'm not dreaming. He's not a hallucination. This is real. Real.

My mate.

My savior.

Strong arms wrap around me, drawing me in against an embrace both hard and warm, filled with assurance and yearning. His hands hold me as if I'm some tender, precious thing, going from my back, up to the back of my head, brushing gently against my hair.

He's dropping kisses over the top of my head, against my eyebrows, then my eyes, whispering my name in a ragged chant before crushing me to him once again.

"Ava. Ava. Sweet Ava. You're safe now. Shh, it's okay. I've got you, Ava.

You're safe now." His voice rumbles, vibrating his chest against my cheek. One hand cradles my head, the other runs soothing lines down my back.

I want to ask him why he's here. To thank him for coming. To tell him how terrified I was. To explain everything. But only a choked sob

of his shirt as I cling to him, as if letting him go means I

alright, sweetheart. Let it out. I'm here now.

need to move," a shifter I

firmly against his chest, rubbing me in that soothing rhythm

do you need to bring with you?" Lucas

Nothing.

here

Ava. We need

choppy movement of my head, blowing out a shuddering breath, then filling

Another breath out.

and lifting me as though I weigh no more

feign modesty, or worry if I'm too heavy. I just lean against him, trying to breathe in a way that sounds

but he's talking over his shoulder,

or the tangled web that brought me here. I just want

jerk slightly in his hold. "Wait," I murmur,

the shifters

he produces a small canister and sprays me down with a fine mist. The scent is earthy and familiar, very neutral-seeming. "This will help conceal your scent for a while," he explains, before handing me a small pill. "And swallow this. It's

The pill leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, but I

but with Lucas—despite

crazy like that, I

leads the way, his strides purposeful and determined, and the strange shifter with the scent diffusing drugs is right behind him. Four more appear out of the shadows as

through the canopy above. The humid summer air is heavy with the scent of earth and foliage. Our footsteps

a single one of them, I

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