Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

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.

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 comes out as all the emotions of the last few days takes over, gripping my body

his shirt as I cling to

alright, sweetheart. Let it out. I'm

move," a shifter I didn't notice murmurs

against his chest, rubbing me in that soothing rhythm as

do you need to bring with you?" Lucas asks, and I shake

Nothing.

here worth

going to carry you, Ava. We need to

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

Another breath out.

under my legs and lifting me as though I weigh

heavy. I just lean against him, trying to breathe in a way

over his shoulder, so I close my eyes and relax

Clayton, or the tangled web that brought me here. I just want to be a boneless lump in Lucas' arms, soaking in

slightly in his hold. "Wait," I

the burner phone out of my pocket and hands it to one of the shifters accompanying us. Without blinking, the strange shifter

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,

trusting Lucas and his team implicitly. The pill leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, but I welcome

me that I had so much suspicion when Clayton came to my rescue, but with Lucas—despite our history—I can feel so comfortable. Comfortable enough to allow myself

crazy like

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 we leave the

The humid summer air is heavy with the scent of earth and foliage. Our footsteps are muffled by the soft ground,

single one of them,