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.

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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?”

in the waiting room. I can bring her in, if you’d

still staring at Ava, but I can see the tension in

he’s not protesting.

since he seems content

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

hoonital had and

210

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Lisa Ava’s Absence

that breaks my heart.

Selene lunges forward, nearly yanking the leash out of Kellan’s

sheets as she tries to get closer to Ava. Lucas starts to rise

is hot beneath my fingers, and I can feel the tension thrumming through him like a live wire. “I think… I think it

heart stutter in my chest. Oh God. What have I done? The look on his face… it’s like

I can’t back down now. Not when Ava needs me.

hard, my grip tightening on his wrist even as my hand trembles.

“Just let her stay.”

moment

I

Ava’s Absence

clenched so tightly I’m afraid

he raises his free hand, and I brace myself for the blow.

it never comes.

form, her hackles raised and her lips pulled back in a snarl. And she’s not just protecting Ava–she’s protecting me too, her body angled slightly to the side to put

silent, the tension so thick I can barely breathe. Lucas and Selene stare each other down, husky to wolf.

Lucas’s arm bunch beneath my fingers, and for a second, I’m sure he’s going to lunge for

but he lowers his

out, his voice tight with barely

dog can stay. For now.”