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

I croak.

“No time.”

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

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

who was never involved

abuse.

should still be

he have a mate?

Family?

Friends?

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

and steady against my cheeks,

Lucas grunts, his breath coming in harsh

11:

Ava Moonlight and

him a question. Pack links are so convenient,

one.

has been Selene,

never had a link with

by wounded wolves. Seeing over his shoulder,

injured, and still running. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to

For me.

heart aches more than the wounds shrieking in

slows as we approach a white SUV, and

as they come to

carried from the ambush site, hunting

clicks have them all breathing in

13.11

Moonlight

and Lucas sets me in

me, apologizing

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

1. it.

whine when they lost one of

their own.

driver’s seat,

learn after a

SUV roars to life with

of a new

Beside me, one of the unfamiliar shifters rummages through a medical kit, retrieving supplies to tend to my wounds.

I think I might be melting into a puddle of Ava

little” the unrecognizable voice

Moonlight

voice gentle as he dabs at my face with an antiseptic

pain, I force myself to remain still, not wanting to make his task any

a low, rumbling growl. Vester growls in

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