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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263 Ava: The Compound

body sliding across

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

the constant itch

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

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

clearing. My breath catches as I take in the sight before us. A

picturesque setting that captures my attention.

of pack life?

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of wolves emerges to

weapons.

the Westwood I know. This is a war

brake. My eyes scan the gathered faces, searching desperately for anyone familiar. Then I spot

"Kellan!"

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

composed, shows the strain of recent days. He holds up a hand, silencing my barrage of questions. "Ava,

supposed to be in a hospital, but none of these cottages scream hospital to me. And unlike the Fae Ward. I doubt there's

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Ava: The Compound

into a

but his

he's... stable. But things

complicated."

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

my eye. Another wolf-it takes me a

be touching if I weren't so focused

I ask, noticing the absence of Vanessa's mate among

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

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

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263 Ava, The Compound

with me for

is weird.

we approach the cabin's door. "Why

you to understand that everything we're

"Protect us from what?"

mine, and

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

maps. and documents. The walls are bare except for a few strategic diagrams and what looks