108 Lisa: Ava’s Absence (I)
LISA
Lucas is bigger than I thought he’d be.
The thought comes randomly as I stare at him across Ava’s bed. He never spares me a glance; he’s attuned to her every breath. There’s pain etched across his face that makes my heart ache for him.
I’m hurting, too. But this fated mate connection that
shifters have…
It’s on another level.
Kissing the back of Ava’s hand, I lower my head to pray for the hundredth time today.
Dear Lord, please hear my prayer. I know I don’t go to church and I don’t follow your commandments. I know
I’m a terrible Christian. I’m not even sure I am
Christian. But I know you’re supposed to care about all of us, so please–if you’re listening–please, save Ava.
She deserves so much more than this.
Of course, there’s no answer. Half of me is hoping for a miracle, but the other half knows the prayer’s
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108 Lisa Ava’s Absence (1)
pointless.
There’s nothing any of us can do.
The doctors are confused. All they can say is that she’s stable and should wake up when she’s ready.
But why is she even in this bed in the first place?
We didn’t do anything extra strenuous.
She’s been healing fine.
So why?
Vanessa’s words about Ava’s wolf have me worried, but
about Selene. These
secrets.
secret means Ava never wakes up? the logical
I don’t know.
silent, because there isn’t much
little notice to my friends and family. My parents are still pissed at me, I’m pretty sure. Mom’s changed our group chat name from My Happy Randalls to Empty Nest Randalls
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Ava’s Absence (1)
I was moving.
He’s not thrilled,
City, and now I’m
been
even worried about being
Wait. Pregnant.
get an
be pregnant?
be why?
good day, but right now, with Ava unconscious in the hospital bed between us, it’s suffocating. The urge to
up that kind of question? Hey, Alpha of
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Ava’s Absence
could getting knocked up by a werewolf, who by the way wasn’t you, cause a girl to go into
That’s
but we never
I can’t help but
He looks like he’s barely holding it together as it is, his eyes never
can’t put this
else who can help, someone
Vanessa.
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Ava’s Absence (1)
name pops into my head, and I latch onto it like a lifeline. She’s the healer who’s been taking care of Ava, the one with the
of Ava’s hand. “I’ll be right back,” I whisper, even though
but I get the sense that he’s aware of my every move. It’s unnerving, but also strangely comforting. At least I know he’s not going to let anything happen to Ava
of the room, letting the door click shut softly behind me. The hallway is quiet, the fluorescent lights casting a harsh glare against the white walls and tiled floor. I take a moment to orient myself, trying to remember which way
I think. Or
choose left, figuring I can
Ava’s Absence (1)
questions and worries, each one more unsettling than the last.
is it? What could possibly cause her
chill down my spine. I wrap my arms around myself, trying to ward off the sudden cold that seems to have
be okay, Ava.
apology already forming
Vanessa.
her eyes widening as she takes in my disheveled appearance. “Miss
my mouth, but no words come out. Suddenly, all of my carefully planned questions seem to have vanished,
throat.
16:26
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