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 and

croak. “Clothes.”

“No time.”

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

their wolves is missing, and a pang of fresh guilt hits my heart.

innocent. Someone who was never

abuse.

should still be

he have a

Family?

Friends?

pups who will wonder why Daddy’s

cheeks, burning and stinging against fresh wounds.

grunts, his breath coming in harsh

11:

Ava Moonlight and

links are so convenient,

one.

enter my mind has been Selene, and for

never had a link

wolves. Seeing over his shoulder, I can see the bloody prints left by foot and paw.

Gøøglᴇ to access

For me.

in -agony with every jarring step

we approach a white SUV, and

they come to a standstill.

digs through the backpack he’d carried from the ambush site,

telltale unlocking clicks have them all breathing in

13.11

Ava: Moonlight and

sets me

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

like fucking hell, but I try not to

1. it.

be pathetic to whine

their own.

into the driver’s seat, fully

most shifters learn after a

the SUV roars to life with

a new car.

I’m in a safe place. Beside me, one of the unfamiliar

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

a little” the unrecognizable voice

Moonlight

his voice gentle as he dabs at my face with an antiseptic

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

the front seat, Lucas lets out a

let me drive,” he snaps. “You need to get those mating instincts under control.”