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
15:25
1/9
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.
secrets.
never wakes up? the logical
I don’t know.
because there isn’t
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 with
16-20
2/9
Lisa Ava’s
her I
week. He’s not thrilled, but he’s not
and now I’m terrified that she won’t be here
But there’s been so much
worried about being pregnant.
Wait. Pregnant.
an answer on that?
be pregnant?
that be why?
glance toward Lucas. His presence is intimidating on a good day, but right now, with Ava unconscious in the hospital bed between us, it’s suffocating. The urge to ask him about shifter pregnancies
Hey, Alpha of
15:20
3/0
Lisa: Ava’s Absence
who by the
no. That’s not
being pregnant, but we never really circled back to that topic. There was always something else going on, some new crisis. to deal
hospital sheets, I can’t
it together as it is, his eyes never leaving Ava’s face, his hand gripping hers like he’s trying to anchor her to this world through sheer
can’t put this on him.
has to be someone else who can help, someone who knows about
Vanessa.
15.20
Lisa Ava’s Absence
onto it like a lifeline. She’s the healer who’s been taking care of Ava, the one with the kind eyes and gentle voice. If
hand. “I’ll be right back,” I whisper, even though I know she
my every move. It’s unnerving, but also strangely comforting. At least I know he’s not going to let anything happen to Ava while
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,
I think. Or maybe right?
choose left, figuring I can always backtrack if
Ava’s
As I walk, my mind churns with questions and worries, each
pregnancy, then what is it? What could possibly cause her
my spine. I wrap my arms around myself, trying to ward off the sudden cold
okay, Ava. Please wake
other direction. I stumble back, an apology already forming on my lips, but it dies in my throat when I see
Vanessa.
just as surprised as I feel, her eyes widening as she takes in my
Suddenly, all of my carefully planned questions seem to have vanished, replaced by a thick, choking
throat.
16:26
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!