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

15:28

117

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

though, so who knows. Maybe they don’t need wrinkle cream.

the shower, with Selene’s

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

as scary as Lucas, but just high enough in the pecking order to earn

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 be

Ava’s Absence (IV)

smoothly. But fuck if I don’t feel like I’m drowning in

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

towel that feels too soft against my skin. Everything

I miss Ava.

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

hospital bed, unresponsive to the world around her. And the

in the halls, see them in the sidelong glances thrown my way.

Ava’s Absence

hospital. It’s a political nightmare,

says there’s a lot of movement in the shadows. He’s been training me harder than ever, teaching me how

me yesterday, his scarred face grim. “And you’re her

is waiting by the door, her tail thumping against the

the route so familiar now I could walk it in my sleep. The guards nod at me as I

do the pick ups

I wish, but I’m always followed by

Always.

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

I already

head. “Nothing yet. But she’s

come back

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

moment now she’ll wake

hasn’t

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

lean back in my chair, closing my eyes for a moment. I’m so tired, so fucking tired