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

the demand. For all I know, it probably reduces wrinkles, too. Shifters age well, though, so

slip into the shower, with Selene’s reproachful blue eyes watching me.

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

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

around much lately, too busy running the Westwood pack while Lucas plays vigilant mate at the

Ava’s Absence (IV)

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

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 she never lets

water and step out, wrapping myself in a towel that feels too

I miss Ava.

should be connected, a trio whose first priority is always what

to the world around her. And the

can hear them whispered in the halls, see them in the sidelong glances thrown my

Ava’s

hospital. It’s a political

movement in the shadows. He’s been training me harder than ever, teaching me how to defend myself against

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

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

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

be too busy to do the pick

around as I wish, but I’m always followed

Always.

hand clasped tightly around hers. He looks up

change?” I ask, though I already

head. “Nothing yet.

back to

speak. I take my usual seat on the other side of the bed, reaching

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

she doesn’t. She hasn’t

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

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