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

croak. “Clothes.”

“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

Someone who was never involved in

abuse.

should still be here.

he have a

Family?

Friends?

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

against my cheeks, burning and stinging against fresh wounds.

grunts, his breath coming in harsh pants. “We need to hurry.”

11:

Ava Moonlight and Peace

him a question. Pack links are so convenient, and yet I’ve never had access

one.

only person to enter my mind has been Selene, and for a brief moment, Clayton’s wolf.

after she appeared, I never had a

the city naked, followed by wounded wolves. Seeing over his shoulder, I can see the bloody prints left by foot

thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access

For me.

shrieking in -agony with every jarring step Lucas takes.

we approach a white

shift as they come to a standstill.

he’d carried from the ambush site, hunting for the keys.

telltale unlocking clicks have

13.11

Moonlight

sets me

the seat beside me, apologizing as he shoves a shirt against my abdomen, soaking up

hurts like fucking hell, but I try not

1. it.

pathetic to whine when they lost one of

their own.

driver’s seat, fully dressed within

shifters learn after

roars to life with

a

Beside me, one of the

Everything’s a little fuzzy. I think I might be melting into a puddle of Ava goo,

a little” the unrecognizable voice

Ava Moonlight and Peace

at my face with an antiseptic

the pain, I force myself to remain still, not wanting to make his task any more difficult. Focusing on the astringent scent of alcohol keeps me centered and

a low, rumbling growl. Vester growls

over and let me drive,” he snaps. “You need