Tangled

110 Lisa: Ava’s Absence (III)

Lucas’s shoulders stiffen, and he turns to look at the

healer with a frown. “Still no answers?” he asks, his voice rough with disuse.

Vanessa sighs, her expression sympathetic. “I’m sorry, Alpha. We’re doing everything we can.”

Lucas nods curtly and turns back to Ava, his brow furrowed in thought. Vanessa catches my eye over his shoulder and gives me a subtle shake of her head.

At first, I’m confused. But then it hits me–she must be trying to tell me that Ava isn’t pregnant. A wave of relief washes over me, followed immediately by a pang of guilt. I shouldn’t be happy about this, not when Ava is still lying there unresponsive.

But at least it’s one less thing to worry about. One less complication in an already tangled web.

I slump back in my chair, suddenly exhausted. It’s been a long day, and the emotional roller coaster has taken. its toll. I close my eyes, just for a moment, and let the steady rhythm of Ava’s heartbeat lull me into a light

doze.

1/6

110 Lisa: Ava’s Absence (1)

I’m not sure how much time passes before I’m startled awake by a soft knock at the door. Vanessa pokes her head in, her expression apologetic.

“Sorry to disturb you,” she says, keeping her voice low. “But I thought you might want to know–Kellan just arrived with Ava’s dog.”

I sit up straighter, blinking the sleep from my eyes.

“Selene’s here?”

“He’s got her out in the waiting room. I can bring her in, if you’d like.”

can see the tension in his jaw, the way his hands clench and

not protesting.

good for her,” I say, since he seems content with letting

room, a scrawny silver husky trailing behind him on a leash. For a moment, I’m not sure if

had and late out a high–nitshad

210

C

Lisa Ava’s

breaks

anyone can react, Selene lunges forward, nearly yanking the leash

to get closer to Ava. Lucas starts to

is hot beneath my fingers, and I can feel the tension thrumming through him like a live wire. “I think… I think it might be good for her. To have Selene

his eyes flashing with something dark and dangerous. A growl rumbles low in his throat, and I feel my heart stutter in

now.

hard, my grip tightening on his wrist even as my

“Just let her stay.”

moment

I

Ava’s Absence

clenched so tightly

a tooth. Then, slowly, he raises his free hand, and I brace

it never comes.

snap of teeth, and I realize that Selene has risen to her feet on the bed. She’s standing over Ava’s unconscious form, her hackles raised and her lips pulled back in a snarl. And she’s not just protecting Ava–she’s protecting me too,

I can barely breathe. Lucas and

fingers, and for a second, I’m sure he’s going to lunge for the

Selene’s, but he lowers his hand, his

grits out, his voice

“The dog can stay. For now.”