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?”

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

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

not

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

trailing behind him on a leash. For a moment, I’m not sure if it’s really Selene–she looks thinner than I remember from pictures, her fur matted and dull. But then she catches sight of

in the hoonital had and late

210

C

Ava’s Absence

that breaks my

Selene lunges forward, nearly yanking the leash out

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

wire. “I think… I think it might be good for her. To have Selene

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

back down now. Not when Ava needs

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

“Just let her stay.”

a moment

I

Ava’s

his jaw clenched so tightly I’m afraid he

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

it never

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

and Selene stare each other down, husky to

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

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

his voice tight

“The dog can stay. For now.”