Page 66 of Fool Moon First Aid

Ethan quickly shifts, not missing a beat. He scoops me up, gently pulling me away from Brody, whom I’ve been guarding like he’s the last piece of chocolate on Earth. Wrapped up in Ethan’s arms, I feel like I’m in the eye of my personal hurricane. I let everything spill out, all the pent-up fear, relief, and a truckload of feelings I can’t even name, pouring out of me like a tribute to the night’s madness.

In this moment with Ethan, time doesn’t just stop—it does a full-on swan dive. The rest of the world fades to a blur, leaving just the two of us in our little oasis of calm. His hold on me is like a promise—solid and sure, offering me the space to fall apart and the strength to start putting myself back together. We’re a testament to getting through the rough stuff—not just surviving, but finding a spark of hope in the mess together.

Ava

Ethan wraps me 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?”

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