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.

as scary as Lucas,

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

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,

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

I miss Ava.

here with me. Selene's finally here. We should be connected, a trio whose first priority is always what fun

the world around

them in the sidelong glances thrown my way. The Blackwood daughter, unconscious in a Westwood

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

follows the Grey girl like ducks to their mamas," he told me yesterday, his scarred

her tail thumping against the floor. She's been my

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

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

Always.

is in his usual spot by Ava's bedside, his hand clasped tightly around hers. He looks up as I enter,

ask, though I already know

yet. But she's strong. She'll come back

take my usual seat on the other side of the bed, reaching out to brush a strand of

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

She hasn't for

the bed, curling up at Ava's feet. She's been

my eyes for a moment.