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

demand. For all I know, it probably reduces wrinkles, too. Shifters age well, though, so who knows. Maybe they don’t need wrinkle cream. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to

the shower, with Selene’s reproachful blue

I’ve been. I want to scream. I

scary as Lucas, but just high enough in the pecking order to

busy running the Westwood pack while Lucas plays vigilant mate at the hospital. I

Ava’s

But fuck if I don’t feel like I’m

weeks, not since he left for the Blackwood territory to keep things running there. I can’t even imagine how she’s holding up, but she never lets

in a towel that feels too soft

I miss Ava.

should be connected, a trio whose first priority is

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

can hear them whispered in the halls, see them in the sidelong glances thrown my way. The Blackwood

Ava’s

a political

shadows. He’s been training me harder than ever, teaching me how to defend myself

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

and a tank top. Selene is waiting by the door, her tail thumping against the floor. She’s been my constant companion these past few weeks, a comforting

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. I pretend not to notice

too busy to do the pick ups and drop offs, giving me a little freedom

wish, but

Always.

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

change?” I ask, though I already know the

his head. “Nothing yet. But she’s strong.

back to

the other side of the bed, reaching out to brush a

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

doesn’t. She hasn’t

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

moment. I’m so tired, so fucking tired of all of this.