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 markets.

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 access

with Selene’s reproachful

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

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

been around much lately, too busy running the Westwood pack while Lucas plays vigilant mate at the hospital. I get it,

Lisa: Ava’s Absence (IV)

fuck if I don’t feel like I’m

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,

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

I miss Ava.

should be connected, a trio whose first priority

lying in a hospital bed, unresponsive to the

them in the

Lisa: Ava’s Absence

in a Westwood hospital. It’s a political

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

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

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

way 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 the hallway for any potential threats. They ignore the guard following me in silence. I pretend not to notice

that way. Kellan might be too busy to do the pick ups and drop offs, giving me a little freedom to

around as I wish, but I’m

Always.

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

though I

shakes his head. “Nothing yet. But she’s strong.

come back to us.”

not trusting myself to speak. I take my usual seat on the other side of the bed, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from Ava’s

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

hasn’t for three fucking

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

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