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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body sliding

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

me from the constant itch

out the seatbelts?" I mutter, rubbing my elbow

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

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,

picturesque setting that captures my

of pack life? The children

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community? Instead, a group of wolves emerges to meet us, their expressions grim

weapons.

Westwood I know.

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 and

"Kellan!"

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

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

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

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a giant

Kellan confirms, but

"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,

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

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

the absence of Vanessa's mate

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

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

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263 Ava, The Compound

been with me for

is weird.

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

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

"Protect us from what?"

eyes meet mine, and the

forces that want to tear us apart. Both

a 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