Page 67 of Fool Moon First Aid

“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.

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