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

exactly

even if my ears would be perked

"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

disagreement. He thinks 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 head out of his

doing that. However, there

you over the pack." She glances at me again,

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

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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 let you guys

in the backseat, who all seem to shrivel at

power," I whisper, even though they can hear every word because... well,

winks at me. "Gotta stop the

"I'm not your-"

I know. Not

that she's put

over the

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

familiar scenery pass. You're

the backseat, startling

the car?" Vanessa asks me in confusion.

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181 Aw Mon

yowl like a cat in heat. "She's just upset she's in the trunk. Thinks she's

into the rearview mirror, shaking her head. "The fact that she's able to be around all of

the dog in question begins to sing the song of huskies everywhere. "She's a

gives in and reaches into the back, coaxing her up front like

sitting in the

shakes her head. "Your dog is

idea," I mutter, though my mind is elsewhere as the tall building looms

approach the entrance, each step bringing me closer to the inevitable confrontation

eyes filled with concern.

I admit, surprised at how calm my voice sounds despite

words soothing, a balm to the anxious bubbling

guard What am I afraid