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 human

probably reduces 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 reproachful blue eyes

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

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

hasn’t been around much lately, too busy running the Westwood pack while Lucas plays vigilant mate at the hospital. I get

Ava’s Absence

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

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

in a towel that feels too soft against my skin. Everything in this place

I miss Ava.

with me. Selene’s finally here. We should be connected, a trio whose first priority is always what fun is around the

a hospital bed, unresponsive to the world

see them in the sidelong glances thrown my

Ava’s

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

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

the Grey girl like ducks to their mamas,” he told me yesterday, his scarred face grim. “And you’re her best friend.

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 presence in a world turned

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.

the pick ups and

but I’m always followed

Always.

by Ava’s bedside, his hand clasped tightly around

I already know the answer.

his head. “Nothing yet. But

back to us.”

the other side of the bed, reaching out

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

she doesn’t. She hasn’t for three

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

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