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

say, trying to ooze casual, even if my ears would be perked as high as hell if I was a dog

with you," she adds, flicking a faint smile in my direction. "He thinks you should stay in Granite City, on Westwood lands,

guard and safe so his alpha is not distracted during this time of crisis. I

been doing that. However, there has

he prioritizes you over the pack." She glances at

also fated mates. "It is. How do you two

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101 AM

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 guys feel their

bodyguards in the backseat, who

power," I whisper, even though they

She winks at me. "Gotta stop the gossips before

"I'm not your-"

yes, I know.

says, but I don't like that

the seat and come

mental eardrum. With those hulking brutes? No,

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

the backseat, startling all

car?" Vanessa asks me in confusion. "I heard

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181 Aw Mon

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

as the dog in question begins to sing the song

in and reaches into the back, coaxing

in

her head. "Your

though my mind is

each step bringing me

me, her eyes filled

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

words soothing, a balm to the anxious bubbling of my

catches me off guard What am I afraid of?