Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 82 Ava: Hospital, Again

Vanessa looks at me with confusion etched on her face. I'd laugh a little, except I'm a little too worried about her calling me by a title I shouldn't have.

"You're… not our Luna?" she asks, in this careful way that makes me think she's been told the exact opposite.

Has Lucas been spreading the word that I'm his Luna? Because that seems a little presumptuous. No, not a little; a lot presumptuous.

It's hard to be too angry when he risked his life to save me, but it's not impossible, so I seethe a little on the inside, shaking my head.

There's a ringing in my ears and an increase in the throbbing ache of my face when I do, so I stop, holding up a hand instead. "No. No, I'm not."

Vanessa's gaze goes from the top of my head, down my body, and eventually to the side of my neck, despite it being covered in bandages. Her brow furrows as she considers my words.

I take the opportunity to study her. She's cute. If she didn't smell like a wolf and I had to choose an animal for her to be able to shift into, I'd choose something tiny and fluffy, like a rabbit. Or a red panda. She has some curves to her and a soft face, with large, doe-like eyes and lashes that are too long to be real.

Despite the lack of make-up on her face, I suspect she at least throws on some false lashes and mascara.

I would, too, if I knew how to do it. Short eyelashes suck.

"But you are Lucas' mate, aren't you?" Her question throws me off. I was too distracted by looking at her face and pondering if there was anything out there that could shift into a red panda.

A lump forms in my throat at the mention of his name. Unable to meet her gaze, I lower my eyes to the light quilt over my legs. It isn't the kind you'd normally find in a hospital. Instead, it's a real blanket that you'd see in someone's home. Between that and the shirt I'm wearing, I have a feeling that I'm getting special privileges due to this misunderstanding.

"Yes, I suppose." I don't sound very confident, because I'm not.

"But?" Vanessa prompts, leaning forward.

This is a conversation I'm probably going to have a lot in this place, so I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the admission that still stings, even after all this time. "He rejected me. Months ago."

voice doesn't waver a single iota is something I'm proud

him problem, not a me problem. Right? Who rejects their fated mate? It's a question

still don't know why. I just know that he showed up one

I could wait around for him

He came for you,

sigh escapes me at the thought. None of this makes sense in my head,

admission. Before I can dwell on it further, she seems to shake herself out of her reverie and refocuses

a story for another time," she says with a small smile. "For now, let's

entire body protests movement, and I can only imagine

gentle as she peels back the fabric of the oversized shirt,

here," she explains, her fingers lightly tracing

I remember getting the

stinging remnants of bite marks. "These were mostly caused by

trusting my voice at the moment. The pain is manageable, but the trauma lingers. Having a flash of those

It's a lot.

turns grave as she continues her assessment. "Unfortunately, there was widespread infection, particularly in the wounds where you were bit. It set in rapidly. You've had a high fever for

I blink. "Coded?"

I died?

"Yes. Between your blood loss and the rapid infection, your heart rate ceased to exist for

is probably

know

of thing that sticks

in time." She winks. "You're welcome. It

effort, but I manage something that must pass muster, because she continues on, her face settling back into a

IV, which has helped a lot already. Your cultures should be back later today and we will be able to tailor your medicine to the infection. Right now, you're on three different broad-spectrum antibiotics to