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

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

from the constant itch of magic

mutter, rubbing my elbow where it smacked against the

doesn't answer, 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 here, much more densely wooded

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

the picturesque setting that captures

pack life? The

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263 Ava: The Compound

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

weapons.

I know. This is a

fully engage the parking brake. My eyes scan the

"Kellan!"

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

He holds up a hand, silencing my barrage of questions. "Ava, there's a lot we need

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

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Ava: The Compound

into a giant

confirms, but his

he's... stable. But things

complicated."

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

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

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

absence of

towards a small cabin set apart from the others. It looks more like

and Vanessa being led in a different direction by Ryder. The separation makes my skin prickle, and I scratch at my arms furiously

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263 Ava, The Compound

me for so

is weird.

I demand as we approach

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

"Protect us from what?"

eyes meet mine, and

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

door, revealing 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 looks