Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 163 Ava: Mom (III)

Each word is like a dagger to my heart, twisting and tearing at the fragile threads of my composure. I feel myself crumbling beneath the pain, a tear slipping down my cheek, hot and heavy with the weight of a lifetime of misery.

But then, amidst the chaos of my emotions, Vanessa's words echo in my mind: "Your mother no longer has any power over you. All the power she holds is in the past, in memories."

I cling to those words like a lifeline, using them to anchor myself in the present. Taking a deep, shuddering breath, I meet my mother's gaze head-on.

"No, Mom," I say, my voice growing stronger with each word. "I didn't ruin anything. Nor did I fail. I was a child who deserved to live with her family. With happiness. You failed me.

You should have sheltered me. Loved me. And you never did."

My voice cracks a little, and I clear my throat. "I'm not here for you. I'm not here as your daughter. I just want to know what information you have about the vampires." My gaze meets hers, and this time I make sure to keep my face flat. Devoid of emotion.

I can't let her see how much she affects me.

"This is your last chance, Mom. The moment I tell Lucas that you have nothing to tell—"

"He will kill me as soon as I give him the information he seeks," she says, turning her face away from mine with a wave of her hand that I recognize.

Dismissal.

"I'm not stupid. My life is forfeit. I won't sell my children in order to help you."

"I'm your child, Mom. It isn't just Phoenix or Jessa. Me. I exist. You brought me into this world. You rocked me as a baby.

You changed my diapers. You kissed me every night before I went to sleep. I am just as much your child."

Damn it. I can't stop the anger.

"You are a deceiver. You cannot be my child. No defect would be borne of my womb!"

Her weak voice grows strong as she screams.

is not the mother

is not

is twisted with hate, her mouth spitting vitriol, her eyes wild and bulging. "You are no wolf. You are no child of mine. You should be grateful I

call me by

in a frenzy for anything that she can throw, and settles on a pillow,

from me, you demonspawn child. You are

of the machines pierces the

in shock as the room erupts into chaos. Nurses rush past me, their faces set in grim determination as they surround my mother, now thrashing in some

grab my shoulders, firm and steady, guiding me away from

low and urgent

I can't tear my eyes away from my mother. She writhes on the bed, her screams rising above the beeping and the nurses' calm commands. Her eyes, wild and

my lips, barely audible above

no sign of it. Her screams only grow louder, more frantic, as she

ragged. "Get away from me! You're all

she pulls me towards

I allow her to guide me out of the room, my feet moving of their own accord. The screams and beeping fade behind us as the door swings shut, but they echo in my

Haunting.

Horrible.

deep in my heart—the

is a soothing balm, a reminder to

of the hospital corridor fills my lungs, offensively clean, like rubbing alcohol

and my feet are numb,

of my mother's screaming is faded, bringing me back to

in front of me, her eyes searching

alright?" she

alright? I don't know. I feel numb, hollowed out, as if my mother's words have carved

her warmth seeping through my jeans. I reach down automatically to stroke her fur, finding comfort in the familiar

okay, she whispers in my