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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body sliding

narrow road I hadn't even

itch of magic

mutter, rubbing my elbow where it smacked

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 than the places we've

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

not the picturesque setting that captures

bustle of pack life? The children

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263 Ava: The Compound

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

weapons.

Westwood I know. This is

Marcus can fully engage the parking brake. My eyes scan the gathered faces, searching desperately for anyone

"Kellan!"

before I can even catch my

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

be in a hospital, but none of these cottages scream hospital to

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a

Kellan confirms, but his tone does little

"And he's...

complicated."

to cover the chaos we've been through. I need to see Lucas,

wolf-it

Vanessa. The reunion of brother and sister would be touching if I weren't so focused

Vester?" I ask, noticing the absence of Vanessa's mate among the welcoming

jaw tightens 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

makes my skin prickle, and I scratch at

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263 Ava, The Compound

me for so long.

is weird.

demand as we

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

"Protect us from what?"

eyes meet mine,

"From forces that want to tear us

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