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?"

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"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.

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Vanessa curses, her body sliding across the

I hadn't even noticed. The sudden turn sends a

constant itch of magic under my

the hell cut out the seatbelts?" I mutter, rubbing my elbow where it smacked against

against the truck's exterior. It's a small forest here, much more densely wooded than the

an eternity of bumps and swerves, the forest gives way to a clearing. My breath catches as I take in the sight before us. A cluster of cabins nestles against rolling hills, the structures weathered but sturdy. A creek meanders past, its gentle burble

picturesque setting that captures my attention. It's the eerie

of pack life? The

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263 Ava: The Compound

of wolves emerges to

weapons.

I know. This is a

door before Marcus can fully engage the parking brake. My eyes scan the gathered faces, searching desperately for anyone familiar. Then I spot

"Kellan!"

before I can even catch my breath. "Where's Lucas? Is he okay?

usually so composed, shows the strain of recent days. He holds up a hand, silencing my barrage of questions. "Ava,

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

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into a giant

here," Kellan confirms, but

me. "And he's... stable.

complicated."

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

wolf-it takes me a while to recognize

sister would be touching if I weren't so focused on my

absence

towards a small cabin set apart from the others. It looks more like a guard post

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

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263 Ava, The Compound

with me for so

is weird.

as we

doorknob. "Ava, I need you to understand that everything we're doing is to protect the

"Protect us from what?"

eyes meet mine, and

"From forces that want to tear us

door, revealing a spartan interior. A table dominates the small space, covered in maps. and documents. The walls are bare