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?”

got her out in the waiting room. I

reaction. He’s still staring at Ava, but I can see the tension in his jaw,

not protesting.

think it would be good for her,” I say, since he seems content with letting me

a scrawny silver husky trailing behind him on a leash. For a moment, I’m not sure if it’s really Selene–she looks

and late out a high–nitshad

210

C

Ava’s Absence (1)

breaks my

can react, Selene lunges forward, nearly yanking the

the crisp white sheets as she tries to get closer to Ava. Lucas starts to rise from his chair,

through him like a live wire. “I think… I think it might be good for her. To have

dangerous. A growl rumbles low in his throat, and I feel my heart stutter in my chest. Oh

now. Not when

tightening on his wrist even as my

let her stay.”

a moment Lear

I

Ava’s

tightly I’m

he raises his free

it never

hackles raised and her lips pulled back in a snarl. And she’s not just protecting

falls silent, the tension so thick I can barely breathe. Lucas and Selene stare each

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

he takes a step back. His eyes never leave Selene’s, but he lowers his hand, his

grits out, his voice tight with barely

can stay. For