Tangled

Unshift 263

Unshift 263

263 Ava: The Compound

263 Ava: The Compound

My heart thumps hard, trying its best to knock my ribs out of place with excitement. "Is everyone okay?

What's going on?"

Vanessa's eyes unfocus as she communicates with her mate. Waiting is like being bitten by a squad of fire ants, each prickle against my skin beginning to burn as I squirm, impatient for answers.

"He doesn't want to give any answers until we see him, but he said things are stable." There's an uncertain waver in her voice, but I keep quiet as she speaks with Vester, feeling my own unease building.

Stable.

That could mean a lot of things, and they aren't all good.

Marcus stiffens beside me and I glance out the window, expecting to see something on the road.

Nothing.

"There's a few scouts nearby," he says after a long pause. "Vanessa, you sense them?"

20-21

263 Ava: The Compound

"Three," she confirms. "I'm not familiar with them, but I recognize them."

"We're about ten minutes out. We'll run into a few

more waves of scouts, staggered so they can stay in contact." He glances at me. "Like a telephone relay."

"Ten minutes?!" Vanessa frowns. "Vester should have been able to reach me a long time ago."

"I should be able to reach the alpha," Marcus agrees. "But I can't."

"Something's wrong." The healer's look of relief is once again replaced by worry. "This isn't right."

"The area's safe, so just relax until we get there. Someone should be able to give us proper answers then."

I hope he's right.

***

"Shit. Hold on!"

The truck lurches violently, throwing me against the door as Marcus slams on the brakes. Gravel crunches under the tires, and I barely catch myself before my face meets the dashboard.

20:21

263 Ava: The Compound

body sliding

hadn't even

the constant itch of

mutter, rubbing my elbow where

gravel path ahead. Trees press close on either side, branches scraping against the truck's exterior.

and swerves, the forest gives way to a clearing. My breath catches as I take in the sight before us. A

it's not the picturesque setting that

pack life?

20:21

263 Ava: The Compound

that should animate a community? Instead, a group of wolves emerges to meet us, their expressions grim and their bodies bristling

weapons.

know. This

to a stop, and I'm out the door before Marcus can fully engage the parking brake. My eyes scan the gathered faces, searching desperately

"Kellan!"

my lips. before I can even catch my breath. "Where's

a hand, silencing my barrage of questions. "Ava, there's a lot we need to discuss before I can take you to him." My stomach drops. "But he's

hospital, but none of these cottages scream hospital to me. And unlike the Fae Ward. I doubt there's magic here that turns a

20:21

4/0

263

Ava: The Compound

a

here," Kellan confirms, but his tone

me. "And he's...

complicated."

in frustration. Complicated doesn't begin to cover the chaos we've been through. I need to see Lucas, to touch

movement behind Kellan catches my eye. Another wolf-it takes

sister would be

noticing the absence

jaw tightens almost imperceptibly. "Come with me," he says, guiding me towards a small cabin set apart from the others. It looks more like a guard post than a home, and my unease grows

and Vanessa being led in a different direction by Ryder. The separation makes my skin prickle, and I

20:21

570

263 Ava, The Compound

been with me for so long.

is weird.

what's going on?" I demand as we approach the cabin's door.

need you to understand that

"Protect us from what?"

mine, and the

is staggering. "From forces that want to

spartan interior. A table dominates the small space, covered in maps. and documents. The