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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her body

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

constant itch of magic

mutter, rubbing my

against the truck's exterior. It's a small forest here, much more densely

seems 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

picturesque setting that captures my attention.

of pack life? The

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263 Ava: The Compound

daily routines that should animate a community? Instead, a group of wolves emerges to meet

weapons.

the Westwood I know.

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

"Kellan!"

before I can even catch my breath.

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 I can take you

be in a hospital, but none of these cottages scream hospital to

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Ava: The Compound

into a giant

confirms, but his tone

he's... stable. But

complicated."

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

Another wolf-it takes

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

absence of Vanessa's mate among the

me towards a small cabin set apart from the others. It looks more like a guard post than a home, and my unease grows

Marcus and Vanessa being led in a different direction by Ryder. The separation makes my skin prickle, and I scratch at my arms furiously in an attempt to get rid of the

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263 Ava, The Compound

been with me for so long.

is weird.

we

need you to understand that

"Protect us from what?"

eyes meet mine,

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

space, covered in maps. and documents. The walls are bare except for a few strategic diagrams