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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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.

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263 Ava: The Compound

Vanessa curses, her body sliding across the

heart races as we careen onto a narrow road I hadn't even noticed. The sudden turn sends a jolt

itch of magic under

mutter, rubbing my elbow

close on either side, branches scraping against the truck's

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 barely audible over the truck's

the picturesque setting that captures my attention. It's

bustle of pack life? The children

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263 Ava: The Compound

should animate a community? Instead, a group of wolves emerges to

weapons.

isn't the Westwood I know. This

I'm out the door before Marcus can fully engage the parking brake. My eyes scan the gathered faces, searching desperately for anyone familiar. Then I spot him, broad-shouldered

"Kellan!"

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

hand, silencing my barrage of questions. "Ava, there's a lot we need

none of these cottages scream hospital to me. And unlike the Fae Ward. I doubt

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Ava: The Compound

a giant

but his

he's...

complicated."

chaos we've been

movement behind Kellan catches my eye. Another wolf-it

of brother and sister would be

Vester?" I ask, noticing the absence of Vanessa's mate among the

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

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

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263 Ava, The Compound

with me for

is weird.

on?" I demand as we

doorknob. "Ava, I need you to

"Protect us from what?"

meet mine, and

forces that want to tear us apart. Both from

spartan interior. A table dominates the small space, covered in maps. and documents. The walls are bare except for a few strategic diagrams and what