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

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 access chapters of novels

the shower, with Selene’s reproachful blue eyes

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

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

too busy running the Westwood pack while Lucas plays vigilant mate at the hospital.

Lisa: Ava’s

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

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

feels too soft against my skin.

I miss Ava.

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

bed, unresponsive to the world around her. And

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

Lisa: Ava’s Absence

unconscious in a Westwood hospital. It’s a political

the shadows. He’s been training me harder than

me yesterday, his scarred face grim. “And you’re her best friend. That makes you

the floor. She’s been my constant companion these past few

down to the hospital, the route so familiar now I could walk it in my sleep. The guards nod at me as I pass, their eyes scanning

do the pick ups

wish, but I’m always

Always.

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

though I

head. “Nothing yet. But she’s strong.

come back to

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

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

She hasn’t for

the bed, curling up at Ava’s feet. She’s been doing that more and more lately, like she’s trying

for a moment. I’m so tired, so