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 human markets.

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

shower, with Selene’s reproachful blue eyes watching

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

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

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

Ava’s Absence (IV)

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

in a towel that feels too soft against

I miss Ava.

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

in a hospital bed, unresponsive to the world around her. And the rumors

halls, see them in

Ava’s Absence

It’s a political

Jericho says there’s a lot of movement in the shadows. He’s been training me harder than

the Grey girl like ducks to their mamas,” he told me yesterday, his

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

I pass, their eyes scanning the hallway for any potential threats. They ignore the guard

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

I wish, but

Always.

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

ask, though I

shakes his head. “Nothing yet. But

back

the other side of the bed,

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

She hasn’t for three fucking weeks.

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

my eyes for a moment. I’m so tired,