Tangled

107 Lucas: Panic

LUCAS

“What the fuck do you mean she’s unconscious?” My voice rises in the back of the cab, drawing Vester’s alarmed glance in the rearview mirror of the SUV.

Kellan’s voice crackles through my phone. “Her vitals are stable, but she’s not waking up. Doctors can’t find anything physically wrong.”

“Then why the hell is she in the hospital?” Fury pounds through my veins, my wolf snarling to hunt down whoever dared harm our mate. “What did Jericho do?”

“It wasn’t him. She collapsed at home after training.”

“Training?” The word comes out in a growl. “She’s still recovering! She shouldn’t be-”

“Boss.” Vester’s gruff voice cuts in. “Nessa’s with her

now. Should be able to tell us more soon.”

I rake a hand through my hair, jaw clenched. “I want guards on her room. No one gets in besides pack and medical staff.”

“Already done.”

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107 Lucas: Panic

“Good.” I glance out the window at the darkened streets whizzing by, leg bouncing with impatience. Vester’s watching cautiously, and the husky’s panting in the back, still crated. “The dog. Get her to Lisa’s place.”

“Dog?” Kellan grunts. “Since when-“.

“Don’t worry about it.” I end the call, pulse hammering in my throat.

Ava. My Ava. Lying in a hospital bed. Again.

No. I won’t let anything else happen to her. Whatever this is, whoever is responsible, I’ll destroy them. Rip them to shreds with my bare hands if I have to.

The SUV screeches to a halt outside the hospital, but I’m already flinging open the door, barely registering

Vester’s shout to wait. Selene whines from her crate,

think about the dog right now. All that matters is

the sliding doors, my boots thudding against the linoleum as I make a

demanding Ava’s room

107 Lucas Panic

on the counter. “Alpha of the Westwood Pack. Ava Grey is under my protection. Now tell me where

over her keyboard. “R–room 305, Alpha. Third floor, to

spin on my heel and head for the elevators. The ride up is agonizingly slow, the numbers crawling by as

worst–case scenarios.

if she’s hurt worse than Kellan let on? What if someone got past the guards? What

to Ava’s room. Two of my enforcers stand guard outside, nodding respectfully as I

I bark, not slowing

change, Alpha,” one of them says.

with her.”

throat. And there she is. Ava. Lying still and pale against the white sheets, an IV dripping into

ovnraccion crim Thoro’s

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107 Lucas Panic

the other side of the bed.

Must be Lisa.

Vanessa greets softly. “I wish I

news.”

three strides, my hand finding hers, careful of the wires and tubes. Her skin is cool to

to swallow

throat.

wrong with her, Nessa?” I ask hoarsely. “Why won’t she wake

through her hair. “Physically, she’s fine. Exhausted and a bit dehydrated, but nothing that

unconsciousness.”

“Then what-”

Vanessa cuts in gently. “Or rather,

the lack thereof.”

not understanding. “What do you mean?”

unique,” Vanessa says carefully. “She hasn’t shifted, despite being of age. And now, with everything she’s been through…

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107 Lucas Panic

but something’s blocking it. It’s the only theory I can come up with. Her healing has been at an exceptional rate recently, and there was the incident. during the escape where she had supernatural speed. These are not human traits. These are from

wolves.”

down at Ava’s still face, my mind reeling. Her wolf. Trying to break free. “But

is beyond anything I’ve

tight. Uncharted or not, I refuse to lose Ava. Not like this. Not when I

the guard on her room.