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

wolves is missing, and a pang

Someone who was never involved

abuse.

still be

he have a mate?

Family?

Friends?

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

and steady against my cheeks, burning and stinging against

far,” Lucas grunts, his breath coming in harsh

11:

Moonlight and

Pack links are so convenient, and yet I’ve never had access

one.

been Selene,

appeared, I never had a

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

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

For me.

more than the wounds shrieking in -agony with every jarring step Lucas takes.

as we approach a white SUV, and the

come to

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

unlocking clicks have them all breathing

13.11

Moonlight

Lucas sets me in the

seat beside me, apologizing as he shoves a shirt against

I try

1. it.

be pathetic to whine when they lost one

their own.

the driver’s

shifters learn after

roars to life with all

of a new

now that I’m in a safe place. Beside me, one of the unfamiliar

a little fuzzy. I think I might be melting into a puddle of Ava goo, because

little” the

Ava Moonlight

at my face with an antiseptic

prickles and 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 the astringent scent of alcohol keeps me centered and present, even as my mind keeps trying to run away into a hazy white world devoid of

out a

the road, or pull over and let me drive,” he snaps. “You