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 right

be perked as high

she adds, flicking a faint smile in my direction. "He thinks you should stay in Granite City, on Westwood lands,

time of crisis. I think he needs to get his head out of his ass. And as for Alpha, w "Lucas is trying," I defend immediately, and she

doing that. However, there has been some

long absences, his search for you, and how he prioritizes you over the pack." She glances at me again,

that she and Vester are also fated mates. "It

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101 AM

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

the backseat, who all seem

though they

at me. "Gotta stop the gossips before they

"I'm not your-"

I

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

the

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

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

in the backseat, startling all

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

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181 Aw Mon

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

rearview mirror, shaking her head. "The fact that she's able to be around all of us without slinking away is a sight I've never seen.

quirk as the dog in question begins to sing the song of huskies everywhere.

one bodyguard finally gives in and reaches into the back, coaxing her up front like he's talking to a

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

shakes her head. "Your dog

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

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

at me, her eyes filled with concern. "How are you feeling,

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

words soothing, a balm to the anxious bubbling

off guard What