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.

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 chapters of novels early

shower, with Selene’s reproachful blue eyes

blistering reminder of just how tense I’ve been. I want to scream. I want

He’s not as scary as Lucas, but just high enough in the

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

Lisa: Ava’s Absence

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

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 she never lets it show.

wrapping myself in a towel that feels too soft

I miss Ava.

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

unresponsive to the world around her. And the rumors are already

see them in the sidelong glances thrown

Ava’s

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

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

told me yesterday, his scarred

is waiting by the door, her tail thumping against the

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

Kellan might be too busy to do the

as I wish, but I’m

Always.

bedside, his hand clasped tightly around hers. He looks

I ask, though I already know the

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

come back

I take my usual seat on the other side of the

moment now she’ll wake up and start cracking jokes about how we all look like

She hasn’t for three

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.