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

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

the shower, with Selene’s reproachful blue

just how tense I’ve been.

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

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

Lisa: Ava’s

things running smoothly. 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. Always the consummate professional, that

myself in a towel that feels too soft against my skin. Everything in this place is

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

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

halls, see them in the sidelong glances thrown my

Lisa: Ava’s Absence (IV)

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

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

mamas,” he told me yesterday, his scarred face grim. “And you’re her best friend. That makes

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

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 him,

be too busy to do the pick ups and drop offs, giving me a little freedom

I wish, but I’m

Always.

clasped tightly around hers. He looks up as I enter, his eyes bloodshot

ask, though I already know the answer.

his head. “Nothing yet.

come back

the other side of the bed, reaching

just sleeping, and any moment now she’ll

hasn’t for three

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

in my chair, closing my eyes for a moment. I’m