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

13 11

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

croak. “Clothes.”

“No time.”

death, and Lucas tenses. His grip on me holds tight as he breaks into a run, his long strides eating up the

their wolves is missing, and a pang of fresh guilt

innocent. Someone who was never involved

abuse.

still

he have a

Family?

Friends?

who will wonder why Daddy’s not coming

and steady against my cheeks, burning and stinging

breath coming in harsh pants. “We need

11:

Moonlight and

Pack links are so convenient, and yet I’ve never had

one.

person to enter my mind has been Selene, and for a brief moment, Clayton’s

after she appeared, I never had a link with my pack.

his shoulder, I can see the bloody

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For me.

than the wounds shrieking in -agony with every jarring step

approach a white SUV,

shift as they come to

from the ambush site, hunting for the keys. It takes a minute or

unlocking clicks have them all breathing in

13.11

Moonlight

and Lucas sets me in

seat beside me, apologizing as he shoves a shirt against my abdomen, soaking up the blood flowing

hurts like fucking hell, but I try not to whine about

1. it.

be pathetic to whine when they

their own.

into the driver’s seat, fully dressed

shifters learn after

the SUV roars to life with

of a new

lolls against the seat, boneless now that I’m in a safe place. Beside me, one of the unfamiliar shifters rummages through

melting into a puddle of Ava goo, because nothing seems to be working right now.

little” the unrecognizable voice

Ava Moonlight

gentle as he dabs at my face with an antiseptic

and 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

Lucas lets out a low, rumbling growl. Vester growls in return.

pull over and let me drive,” he snaps. “You need to get those mating