Tangled

87 Ava: Missing, AGAIN

Panic has me looking around the room, as if they would just be sitting somewhere. It’s most likely that someone took my jewelry off when I was brought in.

My gaze falls upon the various wires and tubes tethering me to the bed. A thin IV line snakes its way into the crook of my elbow, delivering fluids and medication. A catheter bag hangs from the side of the bed, freeing me from any need for the bathroom.

All great, until I need to get up and look for something. Son of a bitch.

There’s a wheeled table for meals, but all it has is some paperwork that seems to be welcoming me to the -hospital. Does anyone even read those things?

Panic is well on its way to blowing its top inside of my head and setting off a full–scale anxiety attack. My eyes dart from the nightstand to the small closet, but there’s no sign of my jewelry anywhere.

I keep trying to fiddle with a ring that is no longer on my finger, and it’s driving me crazy.

87 Ava: Missing, AGAIN

Finally, I remember the call light. With a trembling finger, I depress the button.

Seconds feel like an eternity as I wait, my mind racing with possibilities. What if they were lost in the woods, during the attack? I hadn’t stopped to see if they’d fallen off. If they’re all the way out there, how the hell do I get them back?

I don’t know a lot about Lucas, but I know alphas.

He’d never let me go back there, and it would be impossible to explain how important the jewelry is. I can’t just tell him that they’re used to keep my power hidden.

The gentle click of the door opening draws my

attention, and a kind–faced nurse steps into the room. “She’s older, and smells of human and rubbing alcohol. “Did you press your call light, dear?”

“My necklace and ring,” I blurt out, struggling to keep my voice calm despite the desperation seeping into it. “I can’t find them anywhere. Do you know what happened to them?”

The nurse’s expression softens with understanding. “I’m afraid I wasn’t here when you were first admitted,

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17 Aus MosNE JOAN

sweetheart. But let me check with the security team.

It’s standard procedure to put any valuables in a safety box, especially when the patient isn’t conscious.”

Relief washes over me at her words, and I nod gratefully. “Thank you. Those items mean so much to

1. me.

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Now to wait.

back against the pillows, my fingers idly tracing the bandages wrapped around my neck. Memories of the past few days flood my mind–the

And my mate.

feels foreign, even

warmth within me. So

think that a few short weeks ago, I was indignant at

tried to show

caving too

to give him a chance, nothing can happen until I

Ava: Missing,

And even then…

other secrets. Like my powers. And

are a thousand reasons against. reconnecting

is an exercise

quilt, because I have no ring to twirl. Every steady beep from the machines

necklace and ring, what will happen to

me?

what point will the people around me

that I’m different?

I hit another heat? So far, there are no signs–but, I just had my

to

gentle creak of the door opening forces me out of the vicious cycle of questions with no answers, and I feel hope

the look on

418

Ava: Missing, AGAIN

hasn’t called back yet. It might

belly, like a hyperactive raccoon. “Thank you

brightly, even as she approaches with a no–nonsense gait, her eyes already on all the cords

question, but an order in that way

to the edge of the bed, her movements careful and

and I

steadying me with a hand on my back. “One step at a time. Hold on, let me get you

to recede as she opens a clear package of giant yellow socks. They

5/8

<

Missing,

to keep me

I ease my feet against the floor. It’s tile, yet the cold doesn’t

but right now, I love them more than anything I’ve ever worn. Cold floors are the worst to

walk on.

nurse hooks the catheter bag onto the IV pole, and I grip the metal rod for support as I heave myself into a standing position, taking in deep gasps of air as I fight against the pain wracking my body from such an

ambitious movement.