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?”

room. I can bring her in,

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

not protesting.

I say, since he seems content with letting me make

leash. For a moment, I’m not sure if it’s really Selene–she looks thinner than I remember from

hoonital had and late

210

C

Ava’s

breaks my heart.

forward, nearly yanking the leash out

closer to Ava.

thrumming through him like a live wire. “I think… I think it might be good for her. To have Selene close.” I can’t admit

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

now. Not

tightening on his wrist even as my hand trembles. “Please,” I whisper, my voice

let her stay.”

moment

I

Lisa: Ava’s Absence (II)

jaw clenched so tightly

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

it never

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, her

and Selene stare each other down, husky to wolf. And

the muscles in Lucas’s arm bunch beneath my fingers, and for

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

he grits out, his

can stay. For