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

15:28

117

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

in the human

keep up with the demand. For all I know, it probably reduces wrinkles, too. Shifters age well, though, so who knows. Maybe they don’t need

with Selene’s reproachful blue eyes watching

of just how tense I’ve been. I want

as Lucas,

much lately, too busy running the Westwood pack while Lucas plays vigilant mate

Ava’s

Kellan has every responsibility to keep things running smoothly. But fuck if I

her mate, some high–up shifter in the pack called Vester, in two weeks, not since he left for the Blackwood territory to keep things running there. I can’t even imagine how she’s holding

step out, wrapping myself in a towel that feels too soft against my skin. Everything in this place is too soft, too luxurious.

I miss Ava.

a trio whose first priority is

unresponsive to the world around her.

see them in the sidelong glances thrown my

Lisa: Ava’s Absence (IV)

Westwood hospital. It’s a political nightmare,

a lot of movement in the shadows. He’s been training me harder than ever, teaching me how

follows the Grey girl like ducks to their mamas,” he told me yesterday, his scarred

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

I pass, their eyes

to do the pick ups and drop offs, giving me a

as I wish, but I’m

Always.

usual spot by Ava’s bedside, his hand clasped tightly around hers. He looks up

change?” I ask, though I already know the answer.

“Nothing yet. But she’s strong.

back to us.”

the other side of the bed, reaching

peaceful, so still. Like she’s just sleeping, and any moment now she’ll wake up and start cracking jokes about how we all look like shit.

She hasn’t

bed, curling up at Ava’s feet. She’s been doing that more and more lately, like she’s trying to protect

eyes for a moment. I’m so