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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Vanessa curses, her body sliding

heart races as we careen onto a narrow road I hadn't even noticed. The sudden turn

me from the constant itch of

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

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

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

picturesque setting that captures my attention.

of pack life? The children

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263 Ava: The Compound

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

weapons.

the Westwood I know.

rolls to a stop, and I'm out the door before Marcus can fully engage the parking brake. My eyes

"Kellan!"

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

days. He holds up a hand, silencing my barrage of questions. "Ava, there's a lot we need to discuss before I can take you to him." My stomach drops. "But

to me. And unlike the Fae Ward. I doubt there's magic here that turns a

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a giant

but

he's... stable. But

complicated."

cover the chaos we've been through. I need to see Lucas, to touch him, to know he's

Another wolf-it takes me a while

would be touching

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

by Ryder. The separation makes my skin prickle, and I

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263 Ava, The Compound

me for so long.

is weird.

going on?" I demand as we approach the

"Ava, I need you to understand

"Protect us from what?"

meet mine,

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

A table dominates the small space, covered in maps. and documents. The walls are