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 can bring

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

he’s not

her,” I say, since he seems content

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

had and late out a high–nitshad

210

C

Lisa Ava’s Absence (1)

breaks my

react, Selene lunges forward, nearly yanking the leash out

as she tries to get closer to Ava. Lucas starts to rise from his chair, his hand outstretched to

through him like a live wire. “I think… I think it might

rumbles low in his throat, and I feel my heart stutter in my chest. Oh God. What have I done? The look on his face… it’s like he’s barely holding himself back

can’t back down now. Not when Ava

wrist even as my hand trembles.

“Just let

a moment

I

Lisa: Ava’s Absence (II)

so tightly

a tooth. Then, slowly, he raises his free

never

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

can barely breathe. Lucas and Selene stare

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

Selene’s, but he lowers his hand, his fingers uncurling from

out, his voice tight with

dog can stay. For now.”