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

to ooze casual, even if my ears would be

"He thinks you should stay in Granite City, on Westwood lands, under guard at all times."

crisis. I think he needs

that. However, there has

for 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 a fated mate. The

fated mates. "It

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101 AM

mated for six years. We're 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 borne STD and let you guys feel their

I watch the bodyguards in the backseat, who all seem to shrivel

abuse of power," I whisper, even though

great?" She winks at me. "Gotta

"I'm not your-"

I

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

hop over the

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

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

in the backseat,

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

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181 Aw Mon

a cat in heat. "She's just upset she's

shaking her head. "The fact that she's able to be around all of us without slinking away

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

gives in and reaches into the back, coaxing her

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

head. "Your dog is

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

heart races as we approach the entrance, each step

at me, her eyes filled

my nerves. "Nervous," I admit,

Vanessa asks, her words soothing, a balm

me off guard What