Tangled

Chapter 81

81 Ava: Wounded

Consciousness is fleeting and unreliable. The gentle vibration of the car is a cadence that lulls me into a state of semi–awareness, reality blurring with dreams. I alternate between understanding that I’m safe to fearing that Phoenix has me in his grasp. Sometimes, I can hear Alpha Renard’s cruel words. I even dream of

Sister Miriam.

Suddenly, a voice cuts through the haze, piercing my muddled thoughts with startling clarity. It’s a voice I recognize, though I can’t quite place it. My eyelids flutter open, and I find myself enveloped in a pair of strong arms, cradled against a broad chest.

It feels wrong.

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As my vision adjusts, I make out the rugged features of Kellan Ashbourne, Lucas’s beta. His eyes are fixed on me, a mixture of concern and relief etched onto his

face.

“Ava,” he says, his voice gentle and soothing, like cool water after on a hot summer day. Ah, I’m poetic in my

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81 Ava: Wounded

delirium.

“You’re safe now. We’re taking you to Westwood

territory.”

I blink slowly, trying to make sense of his words. The events of the night are a jumbled mess in my mind. “Where are we?”

“In a small city. We’re still on Blackwood territory, and you aren’t safe here. Just bear with me for a moment, okay? You’re badly injured, did you know that?”

I nod. Yes, I hurt. It hurts everywhere. Who wouldn’t know when their body hurts? Oh. Maybe paraplegics.

“Yes. I can move my body,” I say, even as I lay like a limp

fish in his arms.

I can, though… I think.

Shit, everything’s hard to keep straight in my mind. I

wish Selene was here.

Or Lucas.

Where’s Lucas?

Wasn’t he here?

seems to sense my confusion. “Alpha

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81 Ava: Wounded

mission, but he’ll be back soon. For now, we need to

again. This time, I can feel the movement. I must not have

pain is a little more intense,

and I realize we’re no longer in the SUV from before. This vehicle is different, its interior stripped down to bare essentials. There

in the

How odd.

lowers me onto a

movements gentle yet purposeful. I wince as the motion aggravates

fucking hurts.

definitely not

murmurs, his hand lingering on my arm for a

but the words refuse to form on my

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81 Ava: Wounded

my eyelids

exhaustion.

climbs in

name is Vanessa, and I’m a pack healer. I’m about to administer some medicine to

and give you

understand me?”

word appealing to

have to stabilize

of blood.” There’s

pinch,” she warns, and I yelp

I sigh in relief, even as she continues doing something to my arm. “Going in,” she murmurs. “You should start feeling it pretty soon.”

like my head’s about to detach to fly high

***

white, and the

13:14

81 Ava Wounded.

my

few dents, and a couple holes. Probably

bags full of liquid hanging from an IV pole. There’s an IV in my arm and a little monitor

colors.

SpO2 99%.

RR 12.

PR bpm 61.

109/63.

a second for me to

comes online after a short

rate, heart

in a hospital.

back on Aspen lands, but as I blink away my grogginess, I realize it isn’t the same. I’m in a smaller room,

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81 Ava: Wounded

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