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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body sliding across the

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

the constant itch of magic under

I mutter, rubbing

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

like 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 barely audible over the truck's

it's not the picturesque setting that

pack life?

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a group of wolves emerges

weapons.

Westwood I know. This is a war

Marcus can fully engage the parking brake. My eyes scan the gathered faces, searching desperately for anyone

"Kellan!"

can

barrage of questions. "Ava, there's a lot we need to discuss before

these cottages scream hospital to me. And unlike the Fae Ward. I doubt there's magic here that turns

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a

but his tone

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

complicated."

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

Another wolf-it takes me a while to

brother and sister would be touching if I weren't so focused

ask, noticing the absence of Vanessa's mate among the

with me," he says, guiding me towards a small cabin set apart from

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

me for so long. Being without

is weird.

we approach the cabin's door. "Why all the

doorknob. "Ava, I need you to understand that everything

"Protect us from what?"

meet mine, and the

that want to tear us apart. Both from outside...

space, covered in maps. and documents. The walls are bare except