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

I aren't exactly on

be

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

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 ass. And as for Alpha, w "Lucas is trying," I

that. However, there has been

you over the pack." She glances at me

also fated mates. "It is. How do

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at a different place 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

the backseat, who all seem to

I whisper, even though they can hear every

great?" She winks at me. "Gotta stop the gossips before they

"I'm not your-"

I

I don't like that she's put

can always hop over the seat and come

so loud it almost blows out my mental eardrum. With those hulking brutes?

gaze out the window, watching the familiar scenery pass. You're the one who showed up as

howls in the backseat, startling all of

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

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181 Aw Mon

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

that she's able to be around all of us without slinking away is a sight I've

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

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

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

shakes her head.

mutter, though my mind is elsewhere as the

the entrance, each step bringing me closer

filled with concern. "How

"Nervous," I

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

question catches me off guard What