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

Moonlight and Peace

I croak. “Clothes.”

“No time.”

much death, and Lucas tenses. His grip on me holds tight as he breaks into a

missing, and a

innocent. Someone who was never involved

abuse.

still

he have a mate?

Family?

Friends?

does he have pups who will wonder why Daddy’s not

and steady against my cheeks, burning and stinging against

in harsh pants. “We need to hurry.”

11:

Ava Moonlight and Peace

asked him a question. Pack links are so convenient, and yet I’ve

one.

has been Selene, and for a

I never had a link with my pack.

his shoulder, I can see the bloody prints left by

thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early

For me.

in -agony with every

we approach a

as they come

as he digs through the backpack he’d carried from the ambush site, hunting for the keys. It takes a minute or two, as howls

telltale unlocking clicks have them all breathing

13.11

Ava: Moonlight

and Lucas sets me in the back gently.

seat beside me, apologizing as he shoves a shirt against my abdomen,

I try not to whine about

1. it.

to whine when they lost one of

their own.

the driver’s seat, fully

learn after a few naked

SUV roars to life with all the

of a

through the quiet streets. My head lolls against the seat, boneless now that I’m in a safe place. Beside me,

anymore. Everything’s a little fuzzy. I think I might be melting into a puddle of Ava goo, because nothing seems to be

might sting a little” the unrecognizable

Ava Moonlight and Peace

at my face

still, not wanting to make his task any more difficult. Focusing on the

lets out a low, rumbling growl.

drive,” he snaps. “You need to get those mating