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 getting to Ava.

burst through the sliding doors, my boots thudding against the linoleum as I make a beeline for the front desk. The receptionist looks up, startled, but

demanding Ava’s room

107 Lucas Panic

my hand on the counter. “Alpha of the Westwood Pack. Ava Grey is

blanches, fingers flying over her keyboard. “R–room 305, Alpha.

for the elevators. The ride up is agonizingly slow, the numbers crawling by as my mind races with

worst–case scenarios.

if she’s hurt worse than Kellan let on? What

distance to Ava’s room. Two of my enforcers stand guard

I bark, not slowing down.

change, Alpha,” one of them says. “Vanessa’s still

with her.”

push open the door, my heart in my throat. And there she is. Ava. Lying still and pale against the white sheets, an IV dripping into her arm. Vanessa looks up

hodaido ovnraccion crim Thoro’s

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107 Lucas Panic

other side

Must be Lisa.

Vanessa greets softly. “I wish I had

news.”

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

to swallow past the

throat.

wrong with her, Nessa?” I ask hoarsely.

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

unconsciousness.”

“Then what-”

her wolf,” Vanessa cuts in gently. “Or rather,

the lack thereof.”

not understanding. “What do

carefully. “She hasn’t shifted, despite being of age. And now, with everything she’s been through… I think

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107 Lucas Panic

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 our

wolves.”

stare down at Ava’s still face, my mind reeling. Her

hands helplessly. “I don’t know, Lucas. This is

not, I refuse to lose Ava. Not like this.

guard on her room. No one