Tangled

80 Ava: Moonlight and Peace

The stench of blood and death clings to my skin, my clothes, invading my senses with its coppery tang.

Yet the moon spreads its light over my face, blessing me with its ethereal glow. It’s surreal, an entire world away from the violence.

I laugh as my mind wanders into memories of science class. Of planets and space.

The moon truly is an entire world away. Thirty whole worlds, in fact, would fit between here and the bright satellite that decorates our night.

Thanks, Mr. Finnegan. I always did like science.

The dead weight pinning me to the ground and obstructing a lungful of air is yanked off me, just as strong arms encircle me, pulling me upright. Lucas. His human face swims into view, those striking golden

eyes

filled with concern as he looks me over. I can see his lips moving, but his words are muffled, as if

reaching me through a thick fog.

It’s not until his calloused palm cups my cheek that the

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80 Ava Moonlight and Peace

numbness shatters. A strangled cry escapes my lips as agony lances through my abdomen. All my wounds come to life in an instant, informing me of their

presence.

“Ava? Ava, can you hear me?” Lucas’s voice breaks. through the screams of my injuries, his tone laced with

urgency.

Answering is impossible, so I give a weak nod, my gaze flickering to the gruesome scene behind him. Lifeless wolves litter the forest floor, their bodies twisted and mangled.

The price of freedom.

Even knowing that they wouldn’t reciprocate the sentiment, their lives weigh heavy on my soul.

“We need to move,” Lucas says, still supporting me. “Can you walk?”

The world spins with every movement I make, so I just blink at him. I can’t shake my head. If I do, it just might fall off.

Without another word, Lucas scoops me into his arms, cradling me against his bare chest as he rises to his

feet.

BD

Ava: Moonlight

I croak. “Clothes.”

“No time.”

the relative peace after so much death, and Lucas tenses. His grip on me

is missing, and a pang of fresh guilt

who was never involved in

abuse.

still

have a

Family?

Friends?

he have pups who will wonder why Daddy’s

hot and steady against my cheeks, burning

coming in harsh pants. “We need

11:

Moonlight

Pack links are so convenient,

one.

has been Selene, and for

I never had

through the city naked, followed by wounded wolves. Seeing over his

thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of

For me.

more than the wounds shrieking in

as we approach a white SUV, and

come to

the backpack he’d carried from the ambush site, hunting for the keys. It

unlocking clicks have them all breathing in

13.11

Moonlight and Peace

and Lucas sets me

and hops into the seat beside me, apologizing as he

I try not

1. it.

to whine when

their own.

into the driver’s seat, fully dressed within

talent most shifters learn after a few naked

SUV roars to

of a

I’m in a safe place. Beside me, one of the unfamiliar shifters rummages through a medical kit, retrieving supplies to tend to my wounds. The other two ran to a different car,

fuzzy. I think I might be melting into a puddle of Ava goo, because nothing seems to

sting a little”

Ava Moonlight and Peace

as he dabs at my face

burns intensifying the throbbing ache of my cheeks. Despite the pain, I force myself to remain still, not wanting to make his task any more difficult. Focusing on the astringent scent of alcohol keeps me centered and present, even as my mind keeps

seat, Lucas lets out a low, rumbling

drive,” he snaps.