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.”

His grip on me

missing, and a pang of fresh guilt

was never involved

abuse.

still be here.

he have

Family?

Friends?

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

steady against my cheeks, burning and stinging against

in harsh pants. “We

11:

Ava Moonlight

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

one.

to enter my mind has been

I never had a link

his shoulder, I can see the bloody prints left by foot and

still running. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the

For me.

aches more than the wounds shrieking in -agony

a white SUV, and the other

they come to

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

clicks have

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Moonlight and Peace

Lucas sets me in the back gently.

me, apologizing as he

hurts like fucking hell, but I try not

1. it.

to whine

their own.

slides into the driver’s seat, fully dressed

most shifters learn after a few

SUV roars to life with

of a

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

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

little” the unrecognizable voice

Moonlight

at my face with

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

seat, Lucas lets out a

me drive,” he snaps.