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

never 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

Selene’s reproachful blue

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

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

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

Lisa: Ava’s Absence

Kellan has every responsibility to keep things running smoothly. But fuck if I don’t feel like I’m drowning in this new world without any sort

not since he left for the Blackwood territory to keep things running there. I can’t even imagine

a towel that feels too soft against my skin. Everything in

I miss Ava.

finally here. We should be connected, a trio whose first priority is

a hospital bed, unresponsive to the world around

the halls, see them in the sidelong

Lisa: Ava’s Absence

a Westwood hospital. It’s a political nightmare,

shadows. He’s been

ducks to their mamas,” he told me yesterday, his scarred

top. Selene is waiting by the door, her tail thumping against the floor. She’s been my constant

The guards nod at me as I pass, their eyes scanning the hallway for any potential threats. They ignore the guard

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

as I wish, but I’m always followed by

Always.

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

though I already know

his head. “Nothing yet.

come back to us.”

other side of the bed, reaching

she’s just sleeping, and any moment now she’ll wake up and start cracking

She hasn’t

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

moment. I’m so tired, so fucking tired of all of