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

exactly on talking

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

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

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 ass. And as for Alpha,

However, there has been

you, and how he prioritizes you over the pack." She glances at me again, then back to the road. "It's rough when you have

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

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for a red light, she leans back in the seat, glancing in her rearview mirror. "And none of you are

in the backseat, who all seem to shrivel at her

an abuse of power," I whisper, even though they can

at me. "Gotta stop the gossips before they start,

"I'm not your-"

I know.

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

always hop over the seat

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

watching the familiar scenery

the backseat, startling all

Vanessa asks me in confusion. "I heard she's great with all the

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181 Aw Mon

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

head. "The fact that she's able to be around all of us without slinking away is a sight I've

question begins to sing the song of huskies everywhere.

of the drive, until one bodyguard finally gives in and reaches into the back, coaxing her up front like

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

shakes her head. "Your dog is

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

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

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

deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "Nervous," I admit,

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

What am I afraid of? I