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

76 Ava: Saved Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the ꜰindNʘvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

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.

Let it out. I’m here now. No one’s going

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move,” a shifter I didn’t

behind

want to look at him, but Lucas holds my head firmly against his chest, rubbing me in that soothing rhythm as

do you need to bring with you?” Lucas asks, and I shake my head.

Nothing.

nothing here worth keeping.

need to go fast, before

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

Another breath out.

one under my legs and lifting me as though I weigh no

just lean against him,

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but he’s talking over his shoulder, so I

think about the past–his rejection, my complicated feelings for Clayton, or the tangled web

thought tugs at my consciousness, and I jerk slightly in his hold. “Wait,” I murmur,

“I think there’s a tracker in

burner phone out of my pocket and hands it to one of the shifters accompanying us.

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 a long–lasting scent diffuser that will make it

76 Ava: Saved

you by scent.”

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

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

crazy like that, I

pace. Lucas leads the way, his strides purposeful and determined, and the strange shifter with the scent diffusing

the shadows as we leave the

woods envelop us, the darkness broken only by the occasional beam of moonlight filtering through the canopy above. The humid summer air is heavy with the

smell a single one of them,

scent diffusers are

15:08 — .‘

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unwavering. I press my face against his chest, focusing on the steady rhythm of his heartbeat and the reassuring strength of his

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

to blur as we navigate the labyrinth of the forest, putting as much distance as possible between us and the Blackwood territory. The only sounds are their controlled breathing and the whisper of the wind through the branches.

are we going?” I ask, after what feels like hours. Lucas‘ breathing has never faltered,

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

learned enough to understand that