"Ava."
The sound of my na has sitting up imdiately, even before my eyes open. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. Calm down." Lucas pulls into his arms, and I wrap my arms around his waist as I blink in the dim light, trying to wake my sleepy brain.
"We've made contact with a group of wolves at the border," he says, making my heart skip a beat again. I've been asleep most of the past two days. Grimoire said my body needed to recuperate after such a large draw of power.
This is my first ti hearing anyone was even near the periter of our pack.
"And?" Since Lucas is calm, I know it can't be bad.
"They're from Aspen," he says, confirming my thoughts. "While they haven't been hit as hard as us, they've sent out scouting packs to make contact with us and others."
"How did they find us?" Despite knowing this group isn't a danger to our safety, that detail makes nervous.
"Clayton already knows about this place. He has a safe haven of his own near the coast."
"Oh."
Lucas' voice is steady as he continues, "The leader of these scouts specifically asked for your presence."
"What? Why didn't you lead with that?"
Attempting to jump out of his arms doesn't go well. He tightens his hold, keeping in place. "Calm down, Ava. There's no rush. Get dressed first."
As I scramble for clothes, my thoughts are a jumbled ss. Aspen wolves. Here. Asking for . But who would ask for ?
Only Clayton would. Maybe Rowan? But Lucas would have nad either of them, I'm pretty sure.
"How many?" I ask, pulling on a pair of jeans.
"A small group," Lucas replies. He's already dressed, leaning against the wall as he watches . "Ten."
Very small. Not enough to even make up for our losses a few nights ago during the vampire attack. But the thought of connecting with another pack boosts my spirits. We need allies in order to move forward. We need to hear more about the world outside of our small area.
Once I'm dressed and ready, complete with a cup of coffee, Lucas guides to the planning room, his hand resting against the small of my back.
The scent of unfamiliar wolves hits imdiately. My sense of sll lately has been stronger since the attack, though most of it is a muddled ss to my nose. Lucas, Selene, and Lisa are the only three I can recognize with my eyes closed. Everyone else is a mix of scents I can't quite pull apart.
Lucas says it's because my brain already knows their scents, as they're my most important people. But Grimoire says it's more likely my magic sensing those with the closest bonds to my heart.
My eyes scan the room, taking in the faces of the strangers. So look curious, others skeptical once they get a whiff of my scent. I sll strongly of the pack, but the scent of my magic is strong, now. So wolves even sneeze when I get too close. (Selene, surprisingly, doesn't, though she will if Grimoire flaps his pages too quickly in her direction.)
A woman steps forward, elbowing past the males in front of her. Auburn hair catches the light, and striking green eyes et mine. My breath catches in my throat as recognition dawns.
Ivy.
The last ti I saw her feels like a lifeti ago, back when Phoenix had kidnapped . So much has changed since then. The girl from that ti feels like a stranger to now.
Clayton's sister approaches with asured, graceful steps, opening her arms as she calls my na. "Ava."
She speaks with warmth, but her eyes have that strange distance to them, leaving once again a little unsettled in her presence. I haven't thought of her in so long; I'd forgotten how strange her reaction to my presence was back in Washington.
The hug is lukewarm at best, a perfunctory gesture that lacks any real affection, despite calling my na with such familiarity. I can feel the stiffness in her posture, mirroring my own discomfort. As we pull apart, I search for sothing to say, grasping for words to bridge the chasm of ti and circumstance between us.
"How are you doing, Ivy?" The question sounds hollow and weak, even to . It's a woefully inadequate way to greet soone after all this ti, but my eyes flicker to her head as I think of her bleeding in the car.
A faint smile curves her lips, though it doesn't touch her eyes. "Long healed." Ivy's gaze shifts, moving past to settle on Lucas.
If I had hackles, they'd raise at the way her eyes travel over him. Maybe it's just my discomfort in her presence.
When she speaks again, there's a strange inflection in her voice, an undercurrent I can't put my finger on. It isn't really friendly, but I can't quite say it's unfriendly, either.
"I heard you're Luna here now."
"Yes, I am." My shoulders straighten as I respond, pulling myself as tall as I can stand.
Ivy's eyes narrow slightly, assessing . "Interesting," she murmurs. "It's good to see you doing so well, Ava."
The tension in the room ratchets up a notch. I'm acutely aware of the other Aspen wolves watching our exchange, but I'm at a loss on why it feels as though I'm dancing so strange political line every ti Ivy speaks.
Then, she smiles, and it's as friendly and warm as you'd expect from a close ally, as if my strange emotions are nothing more than fanciful thinking. "I'm so happy you guys are here and doing so well. Our alpha was quite concerned about all of you."
Her eyes flicker to Lucas at the last sentence, as if trying to gauge his response to Clayton's concern. Or is it just paranoia, after all?
I wouldn't be so certain, Selene opines, sounding thoughtful. She seems to have sothing against you. Maybe she's upset you didn't mate her brother, after all.
But even Selene sounds doubtful. Ivy hadn't seed particularly interested in as a potential sister-in-law back then. You'd think she'd be ecstatic to hear I'm mated to soone else now, leaving her precious brother free and clear of my influence.
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