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

croak. “Clothes.”

“No time.”

me holds tight as he breaks into a run, his long

a pang

was never involved in

abuse.

still be

he have a mate?

Family?

Friends?

have pups who will wonder why

my cheeks,

Lucas grunts, his breath coming in harsh pants.

11:

Ava Moonlight

a question. Pack links are

one.

to enter my mind has been

appeared, I never had a link with

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

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

For me.

aches more than the wounds shrieking in -agony

approach a white SUV, and

as they come to a

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

telltale unlocking clicks have them all

13.11

Ava: Moonlight and Peace

and Lucas sets me in the

throws on a pair of pants and hops into the seat beside me, apologizing as he shoves a shirt against my abdomen, soaking

like fucking hell, but I try

1. it.

to whine

their own.

slides into the driver’s seat, fully dressed within

shifters learn after a few naked

the SUV roars to

of a new car.

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

be melting into

might sting a little” the unrecognizable voice

Moonlight and Peace

his voice gentle as he dabs at my

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 on

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

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