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. These
secrets.
keeping the secret means Ava never wakes up?
I don’t know.
stay silent, because there isn’t much to
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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Ava’s
her I
account every week. He’s not thrilled, but he’s not about to let me go homeless or anything.
in Granite City, and now
been
about
Wait. Pregnant.
ever get an answer on
be
be
with Ava unconscious in the hospital bed between us, it’s suffocating. The urge to ask him about shifter pregnancies rises in my throat, but
kind of question? Hey, Alpha
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Ava’s Absence
who by the way wasn’t you, cause a girl to go into a coma? Asking for a
no. That’s not
mentioned worrying about being pregnant, but we never really circled back to that topic. There was always something else going
sheets, I can’t help but wonder if
is, his eyes never leaving Ava’s face, his hand gripping
this on him. Not now.
there has to be someone else who can help, someone who knows about shifter
Vanessa.
15.20
Ava’s
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 kind eyes and gentle voice. If anyone can answer my questions without making me feel like an
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.
he’s aware of my every move. It’s unnerving, but also strangely comforting. At least I know he’s not going
hallway is quiet, the fluorescent lights casting a harsh glare against the white walls and tiled floor. I take a moment to orient myself,
think. Or maybe
left, figuring I can always backtrack if I
Lisa Ava’s Absence (1)
mind churns with questions and worries, each one more unsettling
then what is it? What could possibly cause her to
each one sends chill down my spine. I wrap my arms around
okay, Ava. Please
apology already forming on my lips, but it dies in my throat when I see who it is.
Vanessa.
widening as she takes in my disheveled appearance. “Miss Randall? Is everything
come out. Suddenly, all of my carefully planned questions seem to have vanished, replaced by
throat.
16:26
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