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 terms right

if my ears would be perked

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 she

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

However, there has been

you, and how he prioritizes you over the pack." She glances at me again, then

fated

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101 AM

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

I watch the bodyguards in the backseat, who all seem to shrivel at her

I whisper, even though they can hear

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

"I'm not your-"

I

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

the seat and come

almost blows out my mental eardrum. With those hulking brutes? No,

the familiar scenery pass.

howls in the backseat, startling all

she hate the car?" Vanessa asks me in

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181 Aw Mon

the 'p' hard, and Selerie begins to yowl like a cat in heat. "She's just upset she's in the trunk. Thinks she's

that she's able to be around all of us without slinking away is a sight I've never seen. Dogs usually run

in question begins to sing the song of huskies everywhere.

and reaches into the back, coaxing her

the hospital, she's sitting in the

her head.

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

as we approach the entrance, each step bringing me closer to the inevitable confrontation with

at me, her eyes filled with concern. "How

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

Vanessa asks, her words soothing, a balm to

off guard What am I afraid of?