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
tell them about Selene.
secrets.
the secret means Ava never wakes up? the logical side of me whispers.
I don’t know.
silent, because there isn’t much
still pissed at me, I’m pretty sure. Mom’s changed our group chat name from My Happy Randalls to Empty Nest Randalls with a sad emoji, and she hasn’t spoken in there since the
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Ava’s
I was
in my bank account every week. He’s not thrilled, but he’s not about to let me go homeless
thing for me here in Granite City, and now I’m terrified that she won’t be here much
But there’s been
worried about being pregnant.
Wait. Pregnant.
an answer on that?
be pregnant?
that be
Ava unconscious in the hospital bed between us, it’s suffocating. The urge to
kind of question? Hey, Alpha of the Westwood Pack, you don’t know me, but
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Lisa: Ava’s Absence
could getting knocked up by a werewolf, who by the way wasn’t you, cause a girl
That’s not happening.
my mind. Ava mentioned worrying about being pregnant, but we never really circled back to that topic. There
pale against the white hospital sheets, I can’t
to ask Lucas directly. He looks like he’s barely holding 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
can’t put this on him. Not now.
someone else who can help, someone who knows about
Vanessa.
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Ava’s Absence (1)
the one with the kind eyes
Ava’s hand. “I’ll be right back,” I whisper, even though I know
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
of the room, letting the door click shut softly behind me. The hallway is quiet, the fluorescent lights casting a harsh glare
think. Or
can always backtrack
Ava’s Absence
questions and worries, each one more
is it? What could possibly cause her
sends chill down my spine. I wrap my arms around myself, trying
Ava.
nearly collide with someone coming from the other direction. I stumble back, an apology already forming on my lips, but it
Vanessa.
as I feel, her eyes widening as she takes in my
my mouth, but no words come out. Suddenly, all of my carefully planned questions seem to have
throat.
16:26
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