Tangled

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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

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

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

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

been doing that. However,

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

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

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

the backseat, who all seem to shrivel

even though they can hear every word because...

me. "Gotta stop the gossips before they

"I'm not your-"

I

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

hop over the seat and come

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

as I gaze out the window, watching the familiar scenery

in the backseat, startling all of

me in confusion. "I heard she's

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181 Aw Mon

the 'p' hard, and Selerie begins to yowl like a cat in heat. "She's

her head. "The fact that she's able to be around all

the dog in question begins to sing the song of

bodyguard finally gives in and reaches into the back, coaxing

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

her head. "Your dog

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

races as we approach the entrance, each step

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

my nerves. "Nervous," I admit, surprised at how calm my voice sounds despite

her words soothing, a balm to the anxious bubbling

me off guard What