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

exactly on talking terms

my ears would be

"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

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

that. However, there has

the pack." She glances at

she and Vester are also fated mates. "It is. How do

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101 AM

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

in the backseat, who all seem to

I whisper, even though they

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

"I'm not your-"

yes, I know.

that she's put me in the back with all

over the seat

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

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

the backseat,

car?" Vanessa asks me in confusion.

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181 Aw Mon

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

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

question begins to sing the song of

finally gives in and reaches into the back, coaxing her up front like he's talking to a

the hospital, she's sitting in the middle seat, accepting

head. "Your dog

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

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

eyes filled

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

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

What am I afraid