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

wrinkles, too. Shifters age well, though, so who knows. Maybe they don’t need wrinkle cream. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website

shower, with Selene’s

I’ve been. I want to scream. I want to cry. I

Lucas, but just high enough in the

the Westwood pack while Lucas plays vigilant mate at the

Ava’s Absence (IV)

fuck if I don’t feel like I’m drowning in this new world without any sort

Blackwood territory to keep things running there. I can’t even imagine

in a towel that feels too soft against

I miss Ava.

should be connected, a trio whose first priority is always what fun

hospital bed, unresponsive to the world around

in the halls, see them

Ava’s Absence

unconscious in a Westwood hospital. It’s a political nightmare, even

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

yesterday, his scarred

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

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

do the pick ups and drop offs, giving me a

but I’m always followed by

Always.

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

ask, though I already know the

shakes his head. “Nothing yet.

come back to us.”

on the other side of the bed, reaching out to brush a strand of hair

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

doesn’t. She hasn’t for three

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

eyes for a moment. I’m so tired, so fucking tired of