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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curses, her body sliding across

even noticed. The

from the constant itch of magic under

the seatbelts?" I mutter, rubbing my elbow where

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

way to a clearing. My breath catches as I take in the sight before

the picturesque setting that captures my attention.

pack life? The children

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a group of wolves emerges to meet

weapons.

I know. This is a

stop, and 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,

"Kellan!"

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

usually so composed, shows the strain of recent days. He holds up a hand, silencing my barrage of questions. "Ava, there's a lot we need to discuss before

hospital to me. And

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a

here," Kellan confirms, but his tone does little

"And he's... stable. But

complicated."

the chaos we've been through. I need to see Lucas, to touch

my eye. Another wolf-it takes

deltas-embraces Vanessa. The reunion of brother and sister would be touching if I weren't so focused on

noticing the absence of Vanessa's mate

cabin set apart from

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

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263 Ava, The Compound

for so long.

is weird.

I demand as we approach the cabin's door.

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

"Protect us from what?"

eyes meet mine, and the weight

want to tear

dominates the small space, covered in maps. and documents. The walls are bare except for a few