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

I croak.

“No time.”

Lucas tenses. His grip on me holds tight as he breaks into a run,

missing, and a pang of fresh guilt hits

was never involved in

abuse.

still be here.

have a

Family?

Friends?

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

and steady against my cheeks,

his breath coming in

11:

Moonlight and

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

one.

person to enter my mind has been Selene,

had a link with my pack.

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

FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of

For me.

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

we approach a white

shift as they come to a standstill.

in frustration as he digs through the backpack he’d carried from the ambush site, hunting for the keys.

telltale unlocking clicks have

13.11

Moonlight

sets me in the back

and hops into the seat beside me, apologizing as he shoves a shirt against my abdomen, soaking up the blood flowing freely.

hell, but I

1. it.

be pathetic to whine when

their own.

slides into the driver’s seat, fully dressed

talent most shifters learn after a few naked

SUV roars to life with all the

of a

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

a little fuzzy. I think I might be melting into a puddle of

might sting a little” the unrecognizable

Moonlight

gentle as he dabs at my face with an antiseptic

throbbing ache of my cheeks. Despite the pain, I force myself to remain still, not wanting to make his task any more difficult.

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

drive,” he snaps. “You need to get