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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Vanessa curses, her body sliding across

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

from the constant itch

out the seatbelts?" I mutter, rubbing my elbow where it smacked against the

Trees press close on either side, branches scraping against the truck's exterior. It's a small forest here, much more densely wooded than the

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

setting that captures my attention.

of pack life?

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263 Ava: The Compound

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

weapons.

isn't the Westwood I know. This is a

rolls to 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

"Kellan!"

towards him, questions tumbling from my lips. before I can even catch my

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

supposed to be in a hospital, but none of these 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

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

complicated."

in frustration. Complicated doesn't begin to cover the chaos we've been through. I need to see Lucas, to touch him, to know he's

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

The reunion of brother and sister would be touching if I

I ask, noticing the absence of Vanessa's

almost 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 a home, and my

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

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263 Ava, The Compound

with me for so

is weird.

going on?" I demand as we approach the

I need you to understand

"Protect us from what?"

eyes meet mine, and

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

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