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 on talking

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

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

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

been doing that. However, there has

absences, his search for you, and how he prioritizes you over the pack." She glances at

Vester are also fated mates. "It is. How

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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

I watch the bodyguards in the backseat, who all seem to

though they can hear every word because...

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

"I'm not your-"

yes, I know.

like that she's put me in

can always hop over the seat and

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

I gaze out the window, watching the familiar scenery pass. You're the

the backseat, startling all

she hate the car?" Vanessa asks me in

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181 Aw Mon

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

fact that she's able to be around all of us without slinking

begins to sing the

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

make it to the hospital, she's sitting in the middle seat, accepting the pets of

her head. "Your

though my mind is elsewhere as

each step bringing me closer to the inevitable confrontation

at me, her eyes filled with concern. "How are

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

soothing, a balm to the

catches me off guard What am I afraid of? I