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

it in

they’d never be able to keep up with the 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

with Selene’s reproachful blue eyes

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

here. He’s not as scary as Lucas, but just high enough in the pecking order

running the Westwood pack while Lucas plays vigilant

Lisa: Ava’s Absence

has every responsibility to keep things running smoothly. But fuck if I don’t feel like I’m drowning

the same boat. She hasn’t 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 the consummate professional, that one.

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

I miss Ava.

me. Selene’s finally here. We should be connected, a

unresponsive to the world around her. And the rumors are

in the halls, see them in the

Lisa: Ava’s Absence (IV)

It’s a political nightmare,

in the shadows. He’s been training me harder than

mamas,” he told me yesterday, his scarred

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

sleep. The guards nod at me as I pass,

might be too busy to do the pick ups and drop

I wish, but I’m always

Always.

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

though I already know

his head. “Nothing yet. But

back to

my usual seat on the other side of the bed, reaching out to brush

and any moment now she’ll wake up and start cracking jokes

hasn’t

been doing that more and more

closing my eyes for a moment. I’m