Tangled

111 Lisa: Ava’s Absence (IV)

LISA

Three fucking weeks.

No matter how many times I count, it’s been three fucking weeks.

The calendar on my wall mocks me, today’s date staring me in the face from any particular point of my

kitchen.

Selene whines when I nearly step on her paw for the third time this morning. “Sorry, girl. Give me a second, and we’ll go see her.”

I’m drenched in sweat. Jericho hasn’t blinked a single eyelash over Ava being in the hospital, and we’ve all settled into a new kind of normal.

It’s not normal at all, but it’s life now. At least until Ava

wakes up again.

I’m stronger. Fastér, though nothing compared to these shifters who surround me. I’m learning some basic self–defense, and Selene has helped with the hands–on training to evade and defend against wolf

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111 Lisa: Ava’s Absence (IV)

attacks.

I have bruises and wounds everywhere, and a few of them have even gotten infected, but Healer Vanessa is a godsend who always has some magical cream on her somewhere. Antibacterial, antifungal, prevents scarring, and smells divine. I have no idea why they

sell it in the human

it probably reduces wrinkles, too. Shifters age well, though, so who

with Selene’s reproachful blue eyes watching

blistering reminder of just how tense I’ve been. I want to scream. I want

as scary as Lucas, but just high enough in

pack while Lucas plays vigilant mate at the hospital. I get it, I do. Lucas has every right to

Ava’s

smoothly. But fuck if I don’t feel like I’m drowning in this new

in two weeks, not since he left for the Blackwood territory

feels too soft against my skin. Everything

I miss Ava.

Selene’s finally here. We should be connected, a trio whose first priority is always what fun is around

a hospital bed, unresponsive to the world around her. And the rumors are already

in the halls, see them in the sidelong glances thrown my

Lisa: Ava’s Absence (IV)

hospital. It’s a political nightmare, even I can see that.

in the shadows. He’s been training me harder than ever,

mamas,” he told me yesterday, his scarred face grim. “And you’re her

door, her tail thumping against the floor. She’s been my constant companion these past few weeks, a comforting presence in

make our way down to the hospital, the route so familiar now I could walk it in my sleep. The guards nod at me as I pass, their eyes scanning the hallway for any potential threats. They ignore the guard following me in silence.

might be too busy to do the pick ups

around as I wish, but I’m always followed by

Always.

hand clasped tightly around hers. He looks up as I enter, his eyes bloodshot and

I already know the answer.

“Nothing yet. But she’s strong.

back to

side of the bed, reaching out to brush

just sleeping, and any moment now she’ll wake up and start cracking jokes about how we all look

She hasn’t for three fucking

been doing that more and more lately, like she’s trying to

closing my eyes for a moment. I’m so tired,