Tangled

Chapter 263

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

narrow road I hadn't even noticed. The sudden turn sends a jolt of adrenaline

constant itch of magic under

seatbelts?" I mutter, rubbing my elbow where

the winding gravel path ahead. Trees press close on either side, branches scraping against the truck's exterior. It's a small forest here, much

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

that captures my attention.

pack life?

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263 Ava: The Compound

community? Instead, a group of wolves

weapons.

Westwood I know. This is

a stop, and I'm out the door before Marcus can fully engage the parking brake.

"Kellan!"

questions tumbling from my lips. before I can even catch my breath. "Where's Lucas?

shows the strain of recent days. He holds up a hand, silencing my barrage of questions. "Ava, there's a lot

hospital, but none of these cottages scream hospital to me. And unlike the Fae Ward.

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Ava: The Compound

a

but his

he's...

complicated."

in frustration. Complicated doesn't begin to cover the chaos we've been through. I

behind Kellan catches my eye. Another wolf-it takes me a while

would be touching if I weren't so

the absence of Vanessa's

from the others. It looks more like a guard post than a home, and my

direction by Ryder. The separation makes my skin prickle, and I scratch at my

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263 Ava, The Compound

with me for so long.

is weird.

as we approach the

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

"Protect us from what?"

eyes meet mine, and the

in them is staggering. "From forces that want to tear us apart. Both from

space, covered in maps. and documents. The walls

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