Tangled

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.

10:07

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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 respond. 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 comes out as all the emotions of the last few days takes over, gripping my body in a cold–fingered grip of horror and

distress.

Tears pour down my face, soaking into the fabric of his shirt as I cling to him, as if letting him go means I can never see freedom again.

closer. “It’s alright, sweetheart. Let it out. I’m here now. No one’s going

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move,” a

behind

to look at him, but Lucas holds my head firmly against his chest, rubbing me in

you?” Lucas asks, and I shake my

Nothing.

here worth keeping.

to carry you, Ava. We need to go fast, before anyone notices you’re gone.”

of my head, blowing out a shuddering breath,

Another breath out.

shifts his arms, sliding one under my legs and lifting me as though I weigh no more than

too heavy. I just lean against him, trying

76 Ava Saved

he says, but he’s talking over his shoulder, so

about the past–his rejection, my complicated feelings for Clayton, or the tangled web that brought me here. I just want

at my consciousness, and I

“I think there’s a tracker in my

shifters accompanying us. Without blinking, the strange shifter crushes

and familiar, very neutral–seeming. “This will help conceal your scent for a while,” he explains, before handing me a

76 Ava: Saved

you by scent.”

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

Clayton came to my rescue, but with Lucas–despite our history–I can feel so comfortable. Comfortable

like that, I guess.

his strides purposeful and determined, and the strange shifter with the scent diffusing drugs is

the shadows as we leave

with the scent of earth and foliage. Our footsteps are

one of them, I

scent diffusers are amazing.

15:08 — .‘

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unwavering. I press my face against his chest, focusing on the

probably tell him I can walk, but my entire body protests at

between us and the Blackwood territory. The only sounds are their controlled breathing and the whisper of the wind through

after what feels like hours. Lucas‘

to stay here-” there’s agony on his face as he says this, a spasm

nod. I’ve learned enough to understand