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

though, so who knows. Maybe they don’t need wrinkle cream.

Selene’s reproachful blue eyes

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

not as scary as Lucas, but just high enough in

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

Lisa: Ava’s Absence

responsibility to keep things running smoothly. But fuck if I don’t feel like I’m drowning in this new world without

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

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

I miss Ava.

be connected, a trio whose first priority is always what

bed, unresponsive to the world around

halls, see them in the sidelong glances thrown my

Ava’s

unconscious in a Westwood hospital. It’s a political

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

ducks to their mamas,” he told me yesterday, his scarred

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

at me as I pass, their eyes scanning the hallway for any potential threats. They ignore the guard following me in

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

but I’m always followed

Always.

around hers. He looks up as I enter, his eyes bloodshot and weary.

change?” I ask, though I already

his head. “Nothing yet. But she’s

come back

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

peaceful, so still. Like she’s just sleeping, and any moment now she’ll wake

doesn’t. She hasn’t for

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

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