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 I

is not an

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

not call me

that she can throw, and settles on a pillow, tossing it

demonspawn child. You are not mine! You were never

the machines

in shock as the room erupts into chaos. Nurses rush past me, their faces set in grim determination

steady, guiding me away from the bed. I stumble, my legs

need to go." Vanessa's voice is low and urgent in my ear.

the bed, her screams rising above the beeping and the

slips from my

hear me. Or if she does, she shows no sign of it. Her

"Get away from me! You're all in on it! You're all trying to kill

grip tightens on my shoulders, and she pulls me towards the

room, my feet moving of their own accord. The screams

Haunting.

Horrible.

deep in my

Selene's voice is a soothing balm, a reminder to

shaky breath, then another. The cool air of the hospital corridor fills my lungs, offensively clean, like rubbing

hands are freezing and my feet are numb,

screaming is

hands fall away from my shoulders as she steps in front of

alright?" she

my mouth to respond, but no words come. Am I alright? I don't know. I feel numb,

reach down automatically to stroke her fur, finding

okay, she whispers in my mind.