Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 192

Chapter 192 Ava: Mom's Legacy (V)

The hospital is eerily quiet, our steps echoing through the halls. Visiting hours are long over, and night shift reigns.

Vanessa is unfazed by the creepy quality of the place at a late hour, but I jump when the elevator dings, signalling its arrival in front of us.

"You okay?" she asks, concern knitting her brows.

Selene—who's finally out from beneath my bed, though she refuses to talk about why she avoided me for the rest of the day—leans against my leg in silent comfort. "It's just so quiet. I'm not used to hospitals without people bustling around."

There's a giant machine coming down the hall in our direction, cleaning the floor with whatever algorithm powers its movement.

I always wondered how hospitals kept their floors so clean. I guess everything's automated these days.

Vanessa nudges me onto the elevator, pressing the button for my mom's floor before we've all even made it in.

Four bodyguards flank us. Massive overkill, considering that there isn't much we're expecting to happen on this visit.

Still, Lucas—and Jericho—are taking no chances on my safety.

Marcus, at least, is getting a break, and a new guy seems to be the one to shadow me for the night. He's a little short, but his eyes are black and intense, and I wouldn't want to be found in an alley with him in the dark.

He smells like death, Selene says. To me, such words are atrocious, like I should avoid the person. To her? She speaks as though she admires him.

And that's a good thing?

Selene's ears flick toward me, and I can feel her side-eye even without her eyes moving. He is a capable guard. This is a good thing.

Right. I guess that's true.

"You seem on edge," Vanessa murmurs, looking straight forward as the elevator numbers change from floor to floor.

"Just a little." I've been avoiding thinking about my mom, or her wolf. Avoidance has always been my specialty.

are really, really hard to

step heavy with dread. Selene presses close to my side,

turns, I realize that nothing

the last, and yet it feels as though

they move her?" I ask, confusion lacing

her lips. "They had to make some adjustments for

as we enter the room. Two of our guards take up

the bed where my mother lies, seemingly asleep. She checks the IV bags hanging beside the bed,

frail figure beneath the sheets. The sight of her steals my breath. It's only been a few days, and yet she looks so much smaller, her cheeks hollow

long

her voice tinged with something I can't

always associated with her. But when they

must have come to curse me into the

physical blow, but

with the effort, before

you." My honesty cuts through the

that sound is vile,

daughter so much that even the sound of her cough

you're here,

a nurse steps in, holding a syringe and an impossibly tiny vial filled with clear liquid. "We're about to give

would

I'm trying not to flinch at the words she throws

against my hand keeps me grounded. Don't let her

from the nurse, whose eyes dart around the room like a cornered animal. She scurries

on my tongue, but I swallow them back. Now's not the time to satisfy my

syringe, Selene's voice whispers through my

but I'll take what

once soft and warm, are now sharp and twisted with loathing. It's hard to reconcile this bitter shell of a woman with the mother I remember from

into her lap, tickling me

girl in the world, Ava," she'd say, tucking a strand of hair behind my

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