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

"Vester and I aren't exactly on talking terms right

ooze casual, even if my ears would be perked as high as hell if I was a dog

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

He 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

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 rough when

Vester are also fated mates. "It is.

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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

in the backseat, who all

whisper, even though they can hear

me. "Gotta stop the gossips before they start,

"I'm not your-"

yes, I

like that she's put me

the

eardrum. With those hulking brutes? No,

the familiar scenery pass. You're the one who showed up

the backseat, startling

in confusion. "I heard

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181 Aw Mon

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

able to be around all of us without slinking away

quirk as the dog in question begins to sing the song of huskies everywhere. "She's a

the rest of the drive, until one bodyguard finally gives in and reaches into the back, coaxing her up front like he's

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

head. "Your dog

though my mind is elsewhere as the tall

each step bringing me closer to the inevitable confrontation with my

filled with concern. "How are

deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "Nervous," I admit, surprised at how calm my voice sounds despite the

Vanessa asks, her words soothing, a balm to the anxious bubbling of

What