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

in the

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 access chapters of novels early and in the

Selene’s reproachful

water pounds against my back, a blistering reminder of just how tense I’ve been. I want to scream. I

he was even here. He’s not as scary as Lucas, but just high enough

while Lucas plays vigilant mate at the hospital. I get it, I

Lisa: Ava’s Absence (IV)

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

seen 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 up, but she never lets it show. Always

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

I miss Ava.

finally here. We should be connected, a trio whose first priority is always what

she’s lying in a hospital bed, unresponsive to the world around her. And the rumors are

hear them whispered in the halls, see them in the sidelong

Ava’s Absence (IV)

unconscious in a Westwood hospital. It’s a political

rallying behind Westwood, but Jericho says there’s a lot of movement in the shadows. He’s been training me harder than ever, teaching me how to

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

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

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.

busy to do the pick ups

as I wish, but I’m always followed by

Always.

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

I already know the answer.

his head. “Nothing yet. But she’s

come back

seat on the other side of the bed, reaching out to

Like she’s just sleeping, and any moment now she’ll wake up and start cracking

she doesn’t. She hasn’t for

up on the bed, curling up at Ava’s feet. She’s been doing that

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