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 Peace

I croak.

“No time.”

and Lucas tenses. His grip on me holds tight as he breaks

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

innocent. Someone who was never

abuse.

still be

have a

Family?

Friends?

pups who will wonder why Daddy’s not coming home?

and steady against my cheeks, burning and stinging against

far,” Lucas grunts, his breath coming in harsh pants. “We

11:

Moonlight and

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

one.

only person to enter my mind has been

had a link with

wolves. Seeing over his shoulder, I can see the bloody

thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of

For me.

wounds shrieking in -agony with every jarring step Lucas

a white SUV, and the

come to a

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

telltale unlocking clicks have them all breathing in

13.11

Ava: Moonlight

and Lucas sets me

beside me, apologizing as he shoves a

but I try not to

1. it.

be pathetic to whine when they

their own.

into the driver’s seat, fully dressed

learn after a

to life with all

a new

world blurs in front of my eyes as Lucas drives through the quiet streets. My head lolls against the seat, boneless now that 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.

might be melting into

might sting a little” the

Ava Moonlight and

at my face with an antiseptic wipe.

make his task any more difficult. Focusing

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

road, or pull over and let me drive,” he snaps. “You need to get those mating instincts under control.”