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?”

“He’s got her out in the waiting room. I can bring her in, if

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

he’s not

I say, since he seems content with

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 looks thinner

and late out a

210

C

Lisa Ava’s Absence

breaks my heart.

can react, Selene lunges forward, nearly yanking the leash out of

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

is hot beneath my fingers, and I can feel the tension thrumming through him like a live wire. “I think… I think it might be good for her. To have

in my chest. Oh God. What have I done? The

now. Not when Ava needs me.

even as my hand trembles. “Please,” I whisper,

“Just let her stay.”

moment Lear

I

Lisa: Ava’s Absence

clenched so tightly

free hand, and I brace myself

it never comes.

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 body angled slightly to the side to put herself between me

so thick I can barely breathe. Lucas and Selene stare

my fingers, and for

back. His eyes never leave Selene’s, but he lowers his

he grits out, his voice tight

can