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.

alright, sweetheart. Let it out. I’m here now. No one’s going to hurt you again.”

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move,” a shifter I

from behind

head firmly against his chest, rubbing me in that soothing rhythm as I try with desperate

need to bring with you?”

Nothing.

nothing here worth keeping.

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

a short, choppy movement of my head, blowing out

Another breath out.

my legs and lifting me as though

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

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go,” he says, but he’s talking over his shoulder,

past–his rejection, my complicated feelings for Clayton, or the tangled web that brought me

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

voice. “I think there’s a

the burner phone out of my pocket and hands it to one of the shifters accompanying us. Without blinking, the strange shifter crushes the

produces a small canister and sprays me down 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.

76 Ava: Saved

you by scent.”

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

so much suspicion when Clayton came to my rescue, but with

crazy like that, I guess.

taken, things move at a clipped pace. Lucas leads the way, his strides purposeful and determined, and the strange shifter with the scent diffusing drugs is right behind him. Four more

of the shadows as we leave the house.

occasional beam of moonlight filtering through the canopy above. The humid summer air is heavy with the scent of earth and foliage. Our footsteps are muffled by the soft ground, but the snapping of twigs and rustling

single one of them, I realize.

scent diffusers

15:08 — .‘

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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

can walk, but my entire body protests at the thought.

distance as possible between us and the Blackwood territory. The only sounds are their controlled breathing and the whisper of

going?” I ask, after what feels like hours. Lucas‘ breathing has never faltered, even while carrying me

words soft. “We have cars. From there, you’ll be taken straight to Westwood. I have to stay here-” there’s agony on his face as he says this, a spasm in his jaw, “–because we have business with Blackwood. But

to