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?”

in the waiting room. I can

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

not

good for her,” I say, since

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

had and late

210

C

Ava’s

breaks my heart.

react, Selene lunges forward, nearly yanking the

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 dog away, but I’m

think…

something dark and dangerous. A growl 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 from

I can’t back down now. Not

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

“Just let her

a moment Lear

I

Ava’s

tightly I’m afraid

free hand, and

never

and her lips pulled back in a snarl. And she’s not

so thick I can barely breathe. Lucas and Selene stare each other down, husky to wolf. And Selene’s not losing.

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

takes a step back. His eyes never leave Selene’s, but he lowers

out, his voice tight with

can stay. For