Tangled

30 Ava: Omega? (III)

I groan as searing pain lances through my ribs, fairly certain that at least a few are broken from the impact. Gasping for air, I blink through the haze of confusion, trying to make sense of the chaos surrounding me.

Derek is slumped over the steering wheel, a grotesque trickle of blood oozing from his hairline. In the backseat, Jeremy lies crumpled in a disturbing, bloody mess, unmoving and alarmingly still.

For one hysterical second, I muse that this is precisely why seatbelts exist. Should’ve worn a seatbelt, Jeremy.

I grit my teeth against a wave of pain as I claw my way into the passenger seat.,

My shaking hands fumble with the door handle, but the door remains stubbornly jammed. Peering through the cracked windshield, I realize this side of the car

has collided with a tree. A few inches of trunk are all

that’s blocking my door from opening.

Adrenaline courses through my veins as I muster what little strength remains and kick the door with

everything I have. Before I can kick again, the door

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flies off.

I don’t stop to question my luck. As I tumble out of the wrecked vehicle, gasping for fresh air, a strong hand suddenly grips my arm, yanking me upright. I whirl around, my heart pounding, only to find myself face–to–face with a stranger–a tall, imposing man with chestnut hair and piercing green eyes.

His gaze sweeps over me, assessing, before he speaks in a deep, authoritative tone. “Are you injured?”

I sway into him, my battered body screaming in protest as I fight to remain upright. A dizzying wave of nausea washes over me, and I squeeze my eyes shut, willing the world to stop spinning.

That’s when the scent hits me–ocean fresh, with a woodsy scent lingering just beneath, along with something that can only belong to one of my kind. A shifter. My eyes fly open, locking onto the stranger’s intense gaze, and I instinctively flinch away from him.

A mistake.

the ground. But instead of hitting

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Omega? (III)

cradled against a

ease that belies his impressive stature. I tense, every fiber of my being

a grim line as he studies me intently. “Are you injured?” he

laced with concern.

my

mouth to respond, but the

few hours have left me reeling, and I can’t seem to find my voice

the chaos.

brow furrowing as he takes in my silence. “We need to get you

and I struggle feebly against his iron grip. I can’t go with him!

my efforts are futile. He merely tightens his hold, cradling me closer to his

now,” he murmurs, his voice low and

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Ava: Omega?

to hurt you. Rowan, take care of the rogues,” he orders over his shoulder

waves of pain crashing over me. “Who are you?” I rasp out, my voice hoarse. “What’s going

am Alpha Clayton

unsure if I should give my real name. I feel safe for the immediate moment, but I know my future is now even more uncertain. Selene remains silent in my mind. “Ava,” I finally

for argument as he continues walking, heading deeper into the trees.

leaving me chilled in

you cold?” the alpha

as another tremor wracks through me, my teeth chattering uncontrollably.

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Omega?

against his solid frame as we approach a sleek black SUV.

of me wants to burrow deeper into his warmth, to soak in the reassurance of his strength, to lean on an alpha. It’s

voice in the back of my mind whispering that I can trust no one, especially not

another shifter.

freeing one hand to retrieve a set of keys from his pocket. With a deft flick of his wrist, he unlocks the SUV, and the rear

inside where it’s warm,” he murmurs, his deep voice a low rumble that vibrates

tense as he moves to deposit me in the backseat, my fingers instinctively curling into the fabric of his shirt. A strangled noise escapes my throat–a silent plea

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