Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 111 Lisa: Ava's Absence (IV)

LISA

Three fucking weeks.

No matter how many times I count, it's been three fucking weeks.

The calendar on my wall mocks me, today's date staring me in the face from any particular point of my kitchen.

Selene whines when I nearly step on her paw for the third time this morning. "Sorry, girl. Give me a second, and we'll go see her."

I'm drenched in sweat. Jericho hasn't blinked a single eyelash over Ava being in the hospital, and we've all settled into a new kind of normal.

It's not normal at all, but it's life now. At least until Ava wakes up again.

I'm stronger. Faster, though nothing compared to these shifters who surround me. I'm learning some basic self-defense, and Selene has helped with the hands-on training to evade and defend against wolf attacks.

I have bruises and wounds everywhere, and a few of them have even gotten infected, but Healer Vanessa is a godsend who always has some magical cream on her somewhere. Antibacterial, antifungal, prevents scarring, and smells divine. I have no idea why they don't sell it in the human markets.

Probably because they'd never be able to keep up with the demand. For all I know, it probably reduces wrinkles, too. Shifters age well, though, so who knows. Maybe they don't need wrinkle cream.

I slip into the shower, with Selene's reproachful blue eyes watching me.

The water pounds against my back, a blistering reminder of just how tense I've been. I want to scream. I want to cry. I want to punch something.

he was even here. He's not as scary as Lucas, but just high enough in

hospital. I get it, I do. Lucas has every right to be there, and Kellan has every responsibility to keep things running smoothly. But fuck if I don't feel like I'm drowning in this new world without any

he left for the Blackwood territory to keep

a towel that feels too soft

I miss Ava.

We should be connected, a trio whose first priority is always what fun is around the

to the world

the sidelong glances thrown my way. The Blackwood daughter, unconscious in a Westwood hospital. It's

Westwood, but Jericho says there's a lot of movement in the shadows. He's been training me harder than ever, teaching me how to

their mamas," he told me yesterday, his scarred face grim. "And you're her best friend.

by the door, her tail thumping against the floor. She's been my constant companion these past few weeks, a comforting presence in a

sleep. The guards nod at me as I pass, their eyes scanning the hallway for any potential threats. They ignore the guard following me in silence. I

and drop offs, giving me a little freedom to move around

Always.

bedside, his hand clasped tightly around hers.

ask, though I already

head. "Nothing yet. But she's strong. She'll

myself to speak. I take my usual seat on the other

moment now she'll wake up and start cracking jokes about how we all look like

She hasn't

on the bed, curling up at Ava's feet. She's been doing that more and more lately,

in my chair, closing my eyes for a moment. I'm so tired,