23. Ava

Ethan wrapsme up in an embrace that's both a shield and a shelter, protecting me, but I peek over his shoulder just to assure myself the hunter is gone.

Instead of seeing the worst, I find Tyler standing over him. As though he can feel my eyes on him, he looks over his shoulder at me, then his eyes fall to the man I sat on to protect.

"Brody," I whisper, his name heavy with worry and fear. I'm desperate to break free, to see the damage for myself and fix what's been broken. If only it were that simple.

"I have him, butterfly," Tyler says as he makes his way toward us and crouches at the open door. I'd prefer his usual, lighthearted banter over this serious side of him.

Feeling my restlessness, Ethan loosens his hold, offering me a chance to breathe. Tyler's hands, typically so lively and expressive, now move with deliberate care over Brody's still figure. He doesn't once ask me to move away from him, and I'm not sure I could if I wanted to. The sight of Brody so vulnerable reminds me he can bleed and get hurt. His unnatural stillness and the vivid contrast of blood against his pale skin is something I never want to see again.

"He's all right," Tyler states, his words aiming to steady my frayed nerves, though they hang in the tense air, barely providing comfort.

A heavy silence envelops us, until Ethan's deep voice cuts through. "He's going to be so mad at himself," he says, anticipating what we all know will happen—Brody is going to beat himself up.

Ethan and Tyler exchange a look, and a silent conversation passes between them as they communicate through their bond. The fading light deepens the shadows—a reminder of the dangers lurking at twilight, like hunters. The itch to move makes my legs feel restless.

Ethan nods decisively, a silent affirmation of whatever plan they concocted. "Can you stand?" he asks, his voice tinged with concern for me.

I nod, even though my legs shake.

With a strength I pull out of thin air, I get to my feet. Ethan lifts Brody from the driver's seat, careful not to jostle him. Brody's head lolls to the side, his mouth falling open.

Together, Ethan and Tyler place Brody in the backseat, their actions a blend of urgency and meticulous care. I stand by, wringing my hands. I don't know how to help, and every time I turn my back to the woods, my spine tingles.

Once Brody's in the backseat, Ethan zeroes in on me, his gaze cutting through the fog of my fear with laser precision.

"Ava, we need to go. We can't stay here," he urges. I nod, my heart hammering in my chest.

Ethan's responding nod feels like a formality, as though he's just going through the motions and shutting down. He scoops me into his arms with effortless grace, sparing me a battle with my crutches. "Can you climb in the back with Brody?" His eyes, pools of concern, scan my face for an answer.

I nod, completely overwhelmed. If I talk, I might break, and I can't break, at least not yet.

Not until we are safe.

Ethan gently sets me by the open backdoor. "I have to check under the hood and see if there is something wrong with the engine. Are you good to slide in?" His words nudge me forward.

"Yeah," I squeak out, my voice feeling tiny in the night. Gingerly, I shift Brody's head and scooch into the car, my broken ankle sending up flares of pain, but it's a pain I swallow just to be close to Brody.

Brody's body shifts, his head resting in my lap. Ethan softly shuts the door, wrapping me in the dim, hushed world of the backseat. My trembling fingers sweep his hair back, tracing the rugged landscape of his face down to his neck, where his pulse beats a soft, reassuring rhythm against my fingertips. I'm not ashamed to say I let them lie there against his skin.

The sound of the hood opening shatters the silence. From here, I can barely make out Ethan's silhouette. A part of me wants to peer outside to ensure we're alone, but another part, shackled by fear, anchors me in place, my entire being centered on Brody.

"Loose wire," Ethan declares, a note of relief dripping from his words. "Try starting her up."

Tyler, already in the driver's seat, turns the key. The engine bursts to life with a defiant howl that slices through the night. "Let's get to the clan house. Ava, yell if you see anything, and I mean anything, out of place," Tyler commands.

"I'm taking point in spirit form," Ethan announces, his gaze sweeping the encroaching darkness. In a heartbeat, he shifts, and the man melts away to reveal a majestic black wolf, his fur a cloak of night itself. He gives us a look, releases a huff of air that's all the promise we need, and then he's off, a shadow among shadows.

Brody's breaths are soft whispers against my stomach as he rolls toward me, each one reminding me that he's okay. My fingers weave through his hair, needing to touch him.

Tyler pulls onto the road. The trees blur past, and I can't help but wonder how many other hunters are hiding in the dense forest.Two? Three? Was there only one?

Breaking the thick curtain of silence, I ask, "What about the body?"

"One of the others will dispose of him," Tyler replies as he navigates the car through the winding roads with his chest pressed against the steering wheel.

When Tyler swings the car onto a hidden driveway, it's smoother than I expected, but still bumpy enough that I hold Brody's head immobile. The car bounces over potholes, and branches brush against us.

Up ahead, the clan territory starts to take shape as a small village, with pines standing guard around it. Wolves mill about, shifting shapes like it's no big deal. It's all so…alive, like stepping into a whole new world, where magic's just part of their daily lives.

My nerves flare to life as Tyler pulls up in front of a large home. This isn't exactly how I pictured meeting Ethan and Tyler's parents, but as the car stops and everyone starts to crowd around, I feel this weird sense of determination bubbling up inside me.

Tyler gets out of the car, leaving the driver's door open. My teeth begin to chatter as he opens my door. "Come on, butterfly." He quickly lifts me out of the car and carefully sets me on my feet, holding me until I stop wobbling.

Ethan emerges from the tree line, shifting from his wolf with a grace that's downright mesmerizing. He begins barking orders as soon as he is fully shifted.

"Derik, Stark, and Blaze, you're on patrol. There's a dead hunter on the road leading into clan territory." He scoops up Brody. "Tyler, go brief Dad."

Tyler grumbles before planting a quick kiss on my cheek and darting away.

"Uh, make that two hunters," I pipe up, suddenly becoming the center of attention. "Another shot at us with a harpoon." Saying the words doesn't make the absurdity of the situation feel any more real.

"And who are you?" comes a snarl from a woman who's clearly not my biggest fan. "How do we know you're not one of them?"

"Excuse me?" I'm confused, thrown off by the hostility coming from her in waves. I've never met the woman in my life, and now is not the time.

"You heard me," she snaps like a warrior goddess who just stepped out of a legend. She looks exactly like I imagined a female shifter would look—tall and imposing. There's also an edge to her that tells me she isn't exactly rolling out the welcome mat for me.

Ethan isn't having any of it. "Natalie, back off," he snarls, the air practically crackling with the tension. "Ava is our mate," he adds casually as all eyes turn to me. "Now, let's get moving." To those standing around, just gaping at us, he shouts, "Find the hunters."

Natalie grumbles her displeasure under her breath. If looks could kill, hers would incinerate me.

Despite Natalie's hostility, everyone else smiles at me, and some nod. There's an undercurrent of acceptance, like I might find my place here.

It's a strange juxtaposition.

Ethan's eyes lock onto mine, sending silent promises zipping through the air like arrows of reassurance aimed right at my jittery heart. I instantly calm down and breathe easier.

"Ava, I need to take Brody inside," he murmurs, his gaze flitting between me and the hulk of a man he lifts in a fireman's carry. I can almost see his thoughts in his concerned gaze—he's torn between sticking by me and tending to Brody.

"Head in, I'll be fine," I assure him with a smile that's probably more of a grimace. My crutches are in the backseat, just a lean away. Ethan casts me one of those long, loaded looks before he's off, Brody in tow, looking for all the world like he's carrying nothing heavier than a bag of feathers.

Left alone, I'm enclosed by the flurry of activity that envelops the clan. It's a whirlwind of motion. Wolves and their human counterparts move with a fluidity and purpose that's downright enchanting. They are like a single organism—each movement choreographed as they shift.

I stand smack-dab in the middle of them, feeling every inch the interloper as they stare at me with curiosity. Ethan's declaration, branding me as his mate, has unwittingly thrust me into the spotlight.

I hate it.

Choosing action over stagnation, I reach back into the car, snagging my crutches with a flourish. Natalie's frosty gaze clings to me, causing an unwelcome shiver down my spine, as I equip myself to walk inside.

Crutches now in hand, I hobble toward the front porch, Natalie's chilly scrutiny tracking my every move. It's like wading through an invisible barrier, her gaze a tangible force field pushing against me.

"Ava, was it?" Natalie's voice cuts through the air, stopping me in my tracks. She's an Amazonian figure, her towering and imposing presence forcing me to tilt my head back just to catch her eye.

I try to ignore her, but it's impossible. Even from our slight interaction, I know she's in love with Ethan and doesn't want me anywhere near him.

"And where might you be heading?" she challenges, her tone laced with disdain and challenge.

Planting my crutches firmly, I square my shoulders, surprised by the steadiness of my own voice. "Where I belong," I retort, claiming my space in world. "To the clan house, with my mates." The words feel like a declaration of war, a line drawn in the sand.

"You?" Natalie scoffs, her disbelief palpable. "You think you can just stroll in and claim what rightfully belongs to me?"

Her words sting, a sharp jab to my already aching heart. Ethan's voice as he called me his mate rolls through my head again and again. I belong here with them.

"I'm not here to usurp anyone's dreams," I counter, holding her gaze. "I didn't choose this path any more than you did, but how we navigate this and how we treat each other, is our choice."

For a fleeting moment, I see a crack in Natalie's armor, a glimpse of her true self, but it's quickly masked, and her fa?ade of defiance snaps back into place. "Just remember that this is my territory. You'd do well to know your place."

With a final, searing glare, Natalie steps aside, but the challenge in her eyes remains—a clear signal that this is just the beginning.

I duck past Natalie, her glare sticking to me as I move up the porch steps.

The door swings open as I near, revealing Tyler. "Ava, about time. We have to get you checked and make sure?—"

"Brody's calling." He's not, not really, but somewhere deep within the house, I can feel him. "He needs me."

All right, maybe I need him. I need to see him and make sure he is okay.

Tyler's expression shifts from concern to understanding, and his silent nod acknowledges my response. "Okay, let's head to him, but you're getting checked out afterward, deal?"

I nod, gripping my crutches. Here, surrounded by spiritkin, it's crucial that they see I'm more than capable of standing on my own.

Crossing the threshold into the clan house feels like entering another world. I'm surrounded by a kaleidoscope of scents and sounds that whisper home to anyone who's part of this family. The walls seem to pulse with life, each vibration sharing the rhythm of the clan's vibrant heart.

As we navigate the hallways, which are alive with the soft murmur of voices and the shuffle of feet, I ignore all of it. When we get to Brody's room, the world seems to pause. Ethan is there, his focus sharp as he works on an IV. Brody's eyes flutter open, finding mine, and for a moment, everything else just fades away. Confusion, pain, and then a wave of relief glimmer in his gaze as it settles on me.

"Ava," he rasps out, his voice rough, but it's the sweetest sound.

"I'm right here, Brody. Right here," I respond, moving closer, wishing I could ditch my crutches and be closer still. His hand reaches out, shaky but seeking mine, and when our fingers intertwine, all my worry fades away.

"You're safe," he murmurs, still comforting me, even though he's the one who got hurt.

"We're safe," I whisper, trying to infuse my words with reassurance. "We're at the clan house. Ethan and Tyler have us."

Brody's gaze drifts, taking in his surroundings, then lands on us. "Ethan…and Natalie?" he asks, a hint of something unspoken in his tone.

Why is he bringing her up?

His question about Natalie casts a brief shadow over us, and I tread carefully, the sting of her hostility still fresh. "Natalie's… Let's just say she's not exactly thrilled," I admit, my voice tinged with caution, "but that's a worry for another time. Right now, you need to rest."

Brody nods, his eyes fluttering shut.

Tyler, who lingers in the doorway while Ethan finishes up with the IV, continues to glance over at his brother.

"Why's it so quiet back here?" I ask, a mix of irritation and curiosity in my voice.

Ethan smirks, his attention briefly on us. "Cleared the room," he explains, as if managing a crowd is just another day for him.

"He's going to be okay, right?" I need them to answer me again. I may need to hear it a hundred more times before it will actually sink in.

"Concussed," Tyler says with a shrug that tries to hide his underlying concern, but I see the dark circles under his eyes that weren't there moments ago. "He's tough and been through worse."

I'd hate to know what worse is.

Uncaring of everything else, I sink onto the bed beside him, letting my crutches rest against the wall. Ethan slowly wipes up the blood oozing from Brody's temple. My eyes linger there for far too long, until Brody's hand slips into mine.

I'm falling hard and fast for these three. Whether or not that's due to the words ignorantly spoken under a full moon, I'll never know. All I do know is right now, I need to curl up beside this man, this wolf, and just exist with him.

That is exactly what I do. What I don't expect is to fall asleep while listening to him breathe.