Tangled

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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 terms right

to ooze casual, even if my ears would be perked as high as hell if

and I don't agree about 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 now, and

in disagreement. 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 get his head out of his ass. And as for Alpha, w "Lucas is

been doing that. However, there has been

She glances at me again, then back to the road. "It's rough when you have a fated

also fated mates. "It

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101 AM

you and Alpha are. Slowing for a red light, she leans back in the seat, glancing in her

the backseat, who all seem to

an abuse of power," I whisper, even though they can

great?" She winks at me. "Gotta stop the gossips before they start,

"I'm not your-"

yes, I know. Not

says, but I don't like that she's put me in the back with all the

over the seat and come up

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

watching the familiar scenery pass. You're the one

in the backseat,

hate the car?" Vanessa asks me in

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181 Aw Mon

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

rearview mirror, shaking her head. "The fact that she's able to be around all of us without slinking away is a

My lips quirk as the dog in question begins to sing

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

sitting in the middle seat, accepting the pets of both bodyguards as her

head.

have no idea," I mutter, though my mind is elsewhere as the

approach the entrance, each step bringing me

eyes filled with concern. "How are you feeling,

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

soothing, a balm to

me off guard What am I afraid of?