Tangled

Unshift 226

Unshift 226

226 Ava: War is Here (1)

Magister Orion personally escorts us up the mysterious spiral staircase to two adjoining rooms, promising to begin my training in the morning. O

The moment the door closes behind him, I pull out my phone, unsurprised to see no new texts or phone calls. Sister Miriam did say only the occasional ones text would come through.

So I call Lucas.

He answers on the first ring.

"Are you okay?"

His question is more of a shouted demand for an answer, and I hold the phone several inches away from my ear, blinking at the force of his volume. "Yes. I'm fine. Did you get Kellan's messages?"

"Do you need help? When can you come home? Why won't our phone calls connect? Is everyone treating you okay? Are you in danger? Have you eaten?"

"No. Soon. I don't know. Yes. No. Not yet." My lips curve at the way his questions barrage my ear. "I miss you."

"I miss you too, Ave. So much." Lucas's voice softens, the rough edges smoothing into something tender that wraps around my heart. "I understand why you're there. I do. But I don't like it."

As if sensing the shift in conversation, Vanessa catches my eye, tilting her head toward the adjoining room. Marcus follows, the door clicking shut behind them, leaving me alone with Lucas's

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220 Ava. War is Here (1)

voice in my ear.

Questions pepper through the phone, rapid-fire, all with the same ultimate theme: Is the city safe? Can Alpha Renard or my family

find me?

of the city somehow. Only accessible by portal, I think. They don't have access here, Lucas. Sister Miriam promised. Even Sister Miriam can't come here." I settle onto the edge of the bed, the plush comforter dipping

in his words is both legitimate and something that makes little giggles bubble in the back of

"No, Actually-"

tell someone to enter. I try to listen in, but it's impossible to clarify the

the hospital and wounded, which has ice forming into an anxious

and heavy. The ball of ice

the static crackle of his

other alphas separated from the

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our bounds, abused our authority by allowing the takeover of the Blackwood pack. There

today. All concerted efforts, timed perfectly. We lost

legs turn to jelly. Sliding onto the bed, I whisper, "What does

means war

a punch. War. The weight of it steals my

haven't attacked there yet.

from my throat, fierce and unyielding. "Westwood is my pack too, Lucas. I want to

blessing in disguise that you're there. It was the last place I wanted you to

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aren't strong enough. You've worked hard, but you'd be a liability to any

it would. Biting my lip, I

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Ava: War is Here

opinion isn't on your side

of them even died under the care of the nurses. I'm sure they would be less than thrilled to see me around.

decisions. And now my mate is fighting the real war brought

I can't keep

than dealing with a whiny teenager

But Lucas,

voice cracks a little.