Tangled

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 are Ava’s

secrets.

if keeping the secret means Ava never wakes up? the logical side of me whispers.

I don’t know.

silent, because there isn’t much to

traveled here with 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 with a sad emoji, and she hasn’t spoken in there

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Lisa Ava’s

her I was moving.

not thrilled, but he’s not about to let me go homeless or anything.

thing for me here in Granite City, and now I’m terrified that she won’t be

there’s been so much

about being pregnant.

Wait. Pregnant.

she ever get an answer on that?

she be pregnant?

be

a lead weight in my stomach as I 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 rises in

you even bring up that kind of question? Hey, Alpha of the Westwood Pack, you don’t know me,

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Ava’s Absence (1)

Quick question, could getting knocked up by a werewolf, who by the way wasn’t you, cause a girl to go into a coma? Asking for

no. That’s not happening.

lingers, nagging at the back of my mind. Ava mentioned worrying about being pregnant, but we never really circled back to that topic. There was always something else going

and pale against the white hospital sheets, I can’t help but

answers, but I can’t bring myself 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 through

can’t put this on him.

has to be someone else who can help, someone

Vanessa.

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Ava’s

the healer who’s been taking care of Ava, the one with the kind eyes and gentle voice. If anyone can answer my questions

down to press a soft kiss to the back of Ava’s hand. “I’ll be right back,” I whisper, even though I know she can’t hear me.

acknowledge me, 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

a final squeeze of Ava’s hand, I slip out 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 Vanessa’s

I think. Or maybe right?

left, figuring I can always

Ava’s Absence

with questions

What could possibly cause her to just collapse like this?

are endless, and each one sends chill down my spine. I wrap my arms around myself, trying to ward off the sudden cold that seems to have

okay, Ava. Please

a corner, and nearly collide with someone coming from the other direction. I stumble back, an apology already forming on my lips, but it dies in my throat when I

Vanessa.

her eyes widening as she takes in my disheveled appearance. “Miss Randall?

Suddenly, all of my carefully planned questions seem to have vanished,

throat.

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