Tangled

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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

I aren't exactly on

I say, trying to ooze casual, even if my ears would be perked as high

my direction. "He thinks you should stay in Granite City, on Westwood lands, under guard at all times." "Oh." Distaste is about the

so his alpha is not distracted during this time of crisis. I think he needs to get his head

doing that. However, there has been

you over the pack." She glances at me again, then back to the road. "It's

Vester are also fated mates. "It is. How do you two

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101 AM

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

the bodyguards in the backseat, who all

abuse of power," I whisper, even though they can hear every

me. "Gotta stop the gossips before they

"I'm not your-"

yes, I know.

her, Selene says, but I don't like that she's

over the seat and come

eardrum. With those hulking brutes? No, thank you. Did you know they picked me

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

the backseat,

me in confusion. "I heard

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181 Aw Mon

a cat in heat. "She's just upset she's in the

be around

begins to sing the song of huskies

finally gives in and reaches into

it to the hospital, she's sitting in the middle seat, accepting the pets of both

head.

idea," I mutter, though my mind is elsewhere as the tall building looms before

the entrance, each step bringing

me, her eyes filled with

nerves. "Nervous," I admit,

of?" Vanessa asks, her words soothing,

catches me off guard What am I afraid of? I