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

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

shower, with Selene’s reproachful blue

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

not as scary as Lucas,

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

Ava’s Absence (IV)

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

the pack called Vester, in two weeks, not since he left for the Blackwood territory to keep things running there. I can’t

towel that feels

I miss Ava.

should be connected, a trio whose

unresponsive to the world around

see them in the sidelong glances thrown my way. The

Ava’s Absence

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

rallying behind Westwood, but Jericho says there’s a lot of movement in the shadows. He’s been training me harder

he told me yesterday, his scarred face grim. “And you’re her best friend. That makes you a target.”

pulling on leggings and a tank top. Selene is waiting by the door, her tail thumping against the floor. She’s been my constant companion these past

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

that way. Kellan might be too busy to do the pick ups and

I wish, but I’m

Always.

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

though I already

his head. “Nothing yet. But

come back

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

she’ll wake up and start cracking jokes

doesn’t. She hasn’t for three

Ava’s feet. She’s been doing that more and more lately, like she’s

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