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

aren't exactly on talking terms

say, trying to ooze casual, even if my ears would be perked as high as hell

in Granite City,

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

that. However, there

over the pack." She glances at me again, then back to the road. "It's rough when you have a fated mate.

remembering that she and Vester are also fated mates. "It

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101 AM

We're at a different place than you and Alpha are. Slowing for a red light, she leans back in the seat, glancing

in the backseat, who all

abuse of power," I whisper, even though they

me. "Gotta stop the

"I'm not your-"

yes, I know.

like her, Selene says, but I don't like that she's

the seat and come

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

familiar scenery pass. You're

in the backseat, startling

hate the car?" Vanessa asks me in confusion.

17:34

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181 Aw Mon

the 'p' hard, and Selerie begins to yowl like a cat in heat. "She's just upset she's

to be around all of us without slinking away is a sight I've never seen. Dogs usually

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

singing punctuates the rest of the drive, until one bodyguard finally gives in and reaches

it to the hospital, she's sitting in

shakes her head. "Your

have no idea," I mutter, though my mind is

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

me, her eyes filled with concern.

steady my nerves. "Nervous," I admit, surprised at how calm my

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

question catches me off guard What am I