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

curses, her body

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

itch

hell cut out the seatbelts?" I mutter, rubbing my elbow

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 than the places

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.

not the picturesque setting that captures my

pack

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263 Ava: The Compound

wolves emerges to meet us, their expressions grim and their bodies

weapons.

I know. This

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

"Kellan!"

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

my barrage of questions. "Ava, there's a lot we need to

be in a hospital, but none of these cottages scream hospital to me. And unlike the Fae Ward.

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a

but his tone

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

complicated."

been through. I need to see Lucas, to touch

catches my eye. Another wolf-it takes me a while to

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

noticing the absence of Vanessa's mate among the welcoming

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

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

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263 Ava, The Compound

for so long. Being without

is weird.

as we approach the cabin's

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

"Protect us from what?"

meet mine, and

that want to tear us apart. Both from outside...

pushes open the door, revealing a spartan interior. A table dominates the small space, covered in maps. and documents. The walls are bare except for a few