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.

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

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to move,” a shifter I didn’t

behind

at him, but Lucas holds my head firmly against his chest, rubbing me in that soothing rhythm as I try with desperate gasps and sobs to gather some semblance

to bring with you?” Lucas asks, and I shake my

Nothing.

nothing here

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

of my head, blowing out a shuddering breath, then filling my

Another breath out.

sliding one under my legs and lifting me as though I

to feign modesty, or worry if I’m too heavy. I just lean against him, trying to breathe in a

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but he’s talking over his shoulder, so I close my

for Clayton, or the tangled web that brought me here. I just want to be a

tugs at my consciousness, and

my voice. “I think there’s

my pocket and hands it to one of the shifters accompanying us. Without blinking, the strange shifter crushes the device in his hand,

with 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 harder for

76 Ava: Saved

you by scent.”

leaves a bitter taste in

occurs to me that I had so much suspicion when Clayton came to my rescue, but with

like that, I

taken, things move at a clipped pace. Lucas leads the way, his strides purposeful and determined, and the strange shifter with the scent

the shadows as

is heavy with the scent of earth and foliage. Our footsteps are muffled by the soft ground, but the

can’t smell a single one

diffusers are

15:08 — .‘

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weaving through the trees and underbrush. Lucas never falters, his grip on me secure and unwavering. I press my face against his chest, focusing on the steady rhythm of his

I can walk, but my entire body

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.

we going?” I ask, after what feels like hours. Lucas‘ breathing has

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

learned enough to understand that this is