Tangled

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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

and I aren't exactly on

my ears would be perked as high as hell

agree 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

safe so his alpha is not distracted during this time of crisis. I think he

that. However, there

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

also fated mates. "It

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

the bodyguards in the backseat, who all seem

whisper, even though they can

me. "Gotta stop the gossips before they

"I'm not your-"

I know.

don't like that she's put me in the back with

hop over the seat and come up

almost blows out my mental eardrum. With those hulking brutes? No,

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

in the backseat, startling all of

car?" Vanessa asks me in confusion. "I heard she's great

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181 Aw Mon

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

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

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

in and reaches into the

in the middle seat,

shakes her head. "Your dog

though my mind

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

filled with concern.

"Nervous," I admit, surprised at

Vanessa asks, her words soothing, a balm to the anxious bubbling of my

What am I afraid