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

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

he’s not protesting.

since he seems content with letting me make the

a moment, I’m not sure if it’s really Selene–she looks thinner than I remember from pictures, her fur matted and dull.

hoonital had and late out a

210

C

Ava’s

breaks

react, Selene lunges forward, nearly yanking the leash

to get closer to Ava. Lucas starts to rise from his chair, his hand outstretched to shoo the

say, grabbing his wrist. His skin 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 Selene close.” I can’t admit why, but I can at least try to

in his throat, and I feel my heart stutter in my

can’t back down now. Not when Ava needs

his wrist even as

“Just let

moment Lear

I

Lisa: Ava’s Absence (II)

his jaw clenched so tightly I’m afraid he

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

it never comes.

that 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

so thick I can barely breathe. Lucas and Selene stare each other down, husky to wolf. And Selene’s

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

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

his voice tight

can stay.