Tangled

82 Ava: Hospital, Again

Vanessa looks at me with confusion etched on her face. I’d laugh a little, except I’m a little too worried about her calling me by a title I shouldn’t have.”

“You’re… not our Luna?” she asks, in this careful way

that makes me think she’s been told the exact

opposite.

Has Lucas been spreading the word that I’m his Luna? Because that seems a little presumptuous. No, not a little; a lot presumptuous.

It’s hard to be too angry when he risked his life to save me, but it’s not impossible, so I seethe a little on the inside, shaking my head,

There’s a ringing in my ears and an increase in the throbbing ache of my face when I do, so I stop, holding up a hand instead. “No. No, I’m not.”

Vanessa’s gaze goes from the top of my head, down my body, and eventually to the side of my neck, despite it being covered in bandages. Her brow furrows as she considers my words.

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< 82 Ava: Hospital, Again

I take the opportunity to study her. She’s cute. If she didn’t smell like a wolf and I had to choose an animal

for her to be able to shift into, I’d choose something tiny and fluffy, like a rabbit. Or a red panda. She has some curves to her and a soft face, with large, doe–like eyes and lashes that are too long to be real. Despite the lack of make–up on her face, I suspect she at least

throws on some false lashes and mascara.

I would, too, if I knew how to do it. Short eyelashes

suck.

“But you are Lucas‘ mate, aren’t you?” Her question throws me off. I was too distracted by looking at her face and pondering if there was anything out there that could shift into a red panda.

A lump forms in my throat at the mention of his name. Unable to meet her gaze, I lower my eyes to the light quilt over my legs. It isn’t the kind you’d normally find in a hospital. Instead, it’s a real blanket that you’d see in someone’s home. Between that and the shirt I’m wearing, I have a feeling that I’m getting special privileges due to this misunderstanding.

“Yes, I suppose, I don’t sound very confident, because

I’m not.

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Hospital, Again

prompts, leaning forward.

have a lot in this place, so I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the admission that still stings, even after all this

fact that my voice doesn’t waver a single iota is something I’m proud of.

rejected me. That’s a him problem, not a me problem. Right? Who rejects their fated mate? It’s a question I’ve pondered thousands of times since it

don’t know why. I just know that he showed up one day with

I was kidnapped before I could wait around for him to show up again,

did?

course he did. He came for

sigh escapes me at the thought. None of this makes sense in my

anymore.

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Ava: Hospital. Again

to one of amused thoughtfulness, and I can’t help but wonder what’s going through her mind with my admission. Before I can dwell on it further, she seems to shake herself out of her reverie and

time,” she says with a small smile. “For

the bed, and I brace myself for the inevitable discomfort. My entire body protests movement, and I can only imagine how much it’s going

is gentle as she peels back the fabric of the oversized shirt, revealing crisp white bandages wrapped around my midsection. Sᴇaʀᴄh

fingers lightly tracing the outline of the bandages. “Claw marks, confirmed.”

I remember getting

face, neck, and shoulders, where I can feel the stinging remnants of bite marks. “These were mostly caused by teeth, it seems. Nasty pieces

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lingers. Having a flash of those teeth snapping at me, sinking into my neck, my

It’s a lot.

turns grave as she continues her assessment. “Unfortunately, there was widespread infection, particularly in the wounds where you were bit. It set in rapidly. You’ve had a

I blink. “Coded?”

I died?

your blood loss and the rapid infection, your heart rate ceased to exist for

short time.” 2

stare is probably rude, but–excuse me?

if I almost died.

of thing

were unconscious,” she adds helpfully.

stabilized just in time” She

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Ava: Hospital, Again

some of my best

is an effort, but

that must pass muster, because

settling back

mask.

antibiotics through your IV, which has helped a lot already. Your cultures should be back later today and we will be able to tailor your medicine to the infection. Right