Tangled

161

161

161 Ava: Mom (1)

Selene perks her head up before there's a knock rapping against my door.

Vanessa, she confirms before I open it.

"The boys have dialed in," Vanessa announces as soon as she sees my face. "It's up to you. We can head straight to the hospital, or you

can settle in and wait until tomorrow."

My stomach twists, heartburn coming out of nowhere to spread fire through my esophagus. "Oh." I could almost forget why I'm here, distracting myself with everything else. "Tomorrow's just fine-"

"No," I cut in, shaking my head. "I need to talk to her now. The quicker we get answers, the sooner we can get Lisa back."

Vanessa searches my face, her brows drawing together as she weighs the situation in her mind.

After a moment, she steps back, motioning me out of the room. “I'll

let Ves know."

"Ves? Oh. Vester." I've never heard her talk about him before, and their curious interactions earlier have me wanting to ask her what's going on.

But I'm not exactly sure how to casually bring up such a level of gossip.

Is it gossip when you're talking to the person in question?

Either way.

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161 Ava Mom (0)

"You can stop staring at me like that." Vanessa smiles at me as we head out of the lodge, flanked immediately by two burly wolf shifters I don't recognize.

"Like what?" I ask, feigning innocence for as long as I can. It's embarrassing that she caught me.

Once we're both buckled in and Vanessa shifts into reverse, she

and I aren't exactly on talking

be perked as high

how to deal with you," she adds, flicking a faint smile in my direction. "He thinks you should stay in Granite City, on Westwood lands, under guard at all times." "Oh." Distaste is about the only thing oozing out of me

thinks it's better to keep you under guard and safe so his alpha is not distracted during this time of crisis. I think he needs to

However, there has been

absences, his search for you, and how he prioritizes you over the pack." She glances at me again, then back to the road. "It's

that she and Vester are also fated mates. "It is. How do you two handle

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101 AM

at a different place than you and Alpha are. Slowing for a red light, she leans back in the seat, glancing in her rearview mirror. "And none of you are hearing a single word borne STD and let you guys feel

bodyguards in the backseat,

an abuse of power," I whisper, even though

She winks at me. "Gotta

"I'm not your-"

yes, I know. Not

like that she's put me in the back with

the

it almost blows out my mental eardrum. With those hulking brutes? No, thank you. Did you know they picked me up and

as I gaze out the window, watching the familiar scenery pass. You're the one who showed up as a

backseat, startling

the car?" Vanessa asks me in confusion. "I heard she's great with all the

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181 Aw Mon

Selerie begins to yowl like a cat

she's able to be around

begins to

the drive, until one bodyguard finally gives in and reaches into

hospital, she's sitting in

shakes her head. "Your dog

though my mind is elsewhere as the tall building

each step bringing me closer to the inevitable confrontation with

filled with concern. "How are

take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "Nervous," I admit, surprised at how calm my

soothing, a balm to

What