Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 263

Chapter 263 Ava: The Compound

My heart thumps hard, trying its best to knock my ribs out of place with excitement. "Is everyone okay? What's going on?"

Vanessa's eyes unfocus as she communicates with her mate. Waiting is like being bitten by a squad of fire ants, each prickle against my skin beginning to burn as I squirm, impatient for answers.

"He doesn't want to give any answers until we see him, but he said things are stable." There's an uncertain waver in her voice, but I keep quiet as she speaks with Vester, feeling my own unease building.

Stable.

That could mean a lot of things, and they aren't all good.

Marcus stiffens beside me and I glance out the window, expecting to see something on the road.

Nothing.

"There's a few scouts nearby," he says after a long pause. "Vanessa, you sense them?"

"Three," she confirms. "I'm not familiar with them, but I recognize them."

"We're about ten minutes out. We'll run into a few more waves of scouts, staggered so they can stay in contact." He glances at me. "Like a telephone relay."

"Ten minutes?!" Vanessa frowns. "Vester should have been able to reach me a long time ago."

"I should be able to reach the alpha," Marcus agrees. "But I can't."

"Something's wrong." The healer's look of relief is once again replaced by worry. "This isn't right."

"The area's safe, so just relax until we get there. Someone should be able to give us proper answers then."

I hope he's right.

* * *

"Shit. Hold on!"

slams on the brakes. Gravel

her body sliding across

heart races as we careen onto a narrow road I hadn't even noticed. The sudden turn sends a jolt of adrenaline through my system,

I mutter, rubbing my elbow

Trees press close on either side, branches scraping against the truck's exterior. It's a small

an eternity of bumps and swerves, the forest gives way to a clearing. My breath catches as I take in the sight before us. A cluster of cabins nestles against rolling hills, the structures weathered but sturdy.

setting that captures my attention. It's

playing, the daily routines that should animate a community? Instead, a group of wolves emerges to meet us, their

the Westwood I know. This is

fully engage the parking brake. My eyes scan

him, broad-shouldered and

him, questions tumbling from my lips before I can even catch my breath. "Where's Lucas? Is he

of recent days. He holds up a hand, silencing my barrage of questions. "Ava,

"But he's

hospital to me. And unlike the Fae Ward, I doubt there's magic

but his tone does little to reassure me. "And

to scream in frustration. Complicated doesn't begin to cover the chaos we've been

recognize Ryder, one of Lucas' deltas—embraces Vanessa. The reunion of brother and

ask, noticing the absence of Vanessa's mate among the

me towards a small cabin set apart from the others. It looks more like a guard post than

by Ryder. The separation makes my skin prickle, and I scratch at

me for so long. Being without

we approach the

you to understand that everything we're doing is to protect

"Protect us from what?"

and the weight of responsibility in them is staggering. "From forces that want to tear us apart.

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