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

I aren't exactly

ears would be perked as

to deal with you," she adds, flicking a faint smile in my direction. "He thinks you should stay in

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

doing that. However, there has been

you over the pack." She glances at me again, then back to the

and Vester are also fated

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101 AM

mated for six years. We're 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

backseat, who all seem to shrivel at

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

great?" She winks at me. "Gotta stop the

"I'm not your-"

yes, I know.

don't like that she's put me in the back with all the

always hop over the seat and

out my mental eardrum. With those hulking brutes? No, thank you. Did you know

the familiar scenery pass. You're the one who

in the backseat, startling all

she hate the car?" Vanessa asks me in confusion. "I heard she's

17:34

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181 Aw Mon

begins to yowl like a cat in heat. "She's just upset she's in

she's able to be around all of us without slinking away is a sight I've never

lips quirk as the dog in question begins to sing

singing punctuates the rest of the drive, until one bodyguard finally gives in and reaches into the

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

head. "Your dog is

mind is elsewhere

heart races as we approach the entrance, each step bringing me closer to

at me, her eyes filled

to steady my nerves. "Nervous," I admit, surprised at how calm my voice

you afraid of?" Vanessa asks, her words soothing, a balm to the anxious bubbling of

off guard What am I afraid