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.

here. He's not as scary as Lucas, but just high enough

pack while Lucas plays vigilant mate at the 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

boat. She hasn't seen her mate, some high-up shifter in the pack called Vester, in two weeks, not since he left for the Blackwood territory to keep things running there. I can't even imagine how she's holding up, but she never lets

shut off the water and step out, wrapping myself in a towel that feels too soft against my skin. Everything in this place is too

I miss Ava.

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

bed, unresponsive to the world around her. And the rumors are

sidelong glances thrown my way. The Blackwood daughter, unconscious in a Westwood hospital. It's a political nightmare, even I

the shadows.

mamas," he told me yesterday, his

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

could walk it in my 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

offs, giving me a little freedom to

Always.

in his usual spot by Ava's bedside, his hand clasped tightly

ask, though

yet. But she's strong.

seat on the other side of the bed, reaching

now she'll wake up and start cracking

she doesn't. She hasn't for

been doing that more and more lately,

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