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

her body sliding across the

even noticed. The sudden turn sends a jolt

me from the constant itch

mutter, rubbing my elbow where it smacked against the

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

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

it's not the picturesque setting that

pack life? The

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263 Ava: The Compound

a group of wolves emerges to

weapons.

the Westwood I know. This is

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!"

tumbling from my lips. before I can even catch

"Ava, there's a lot we need

to me. And

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263

Ava: The Compound

into a giant

here," Kellan confirms, but his tone does little

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

complicated."

been through. I need to see Lucas, to touch him, to know

Kellan catches my eye. Another wolf-it takes me a while to recognize Ryder, one

of brother and sister would be touching if I weren't

absence of Vanessa's mate among

he says, guiding me towards a small cabin set apart from the others. It looks more like a

and Vanessa being led in a different direction by Ryder. The separation makes my

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263 Ava, The Compound

for so long. Being without

is weird.

we approach the cabin's

need you to

"Protect us from what?"

meet mine, and the

forces that want to tear us apart. Both from

the door, revealing a spartan interior. A table dominates the small space, covered in maps. and documents. The

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