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

exactly on talking terms

be perked as high as hell if I was

how to deal with you," she adds, flicking a faint smile in my direction. "He thinks you should stay in Granite City, on Westwood lands, under guard at all

is not distracted during this time of crisis. I think he

doing that. However, there has

glances at me again, then

that she and Vester are also fated mates. "It is. How do you two handle the

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101 AM

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

the bodyguards in the backseat, who all

power," I whisper, even though they can hear every word because... well,

"Gotta stop the gossips before they start,

"I'm not your-"

I know. Not

like that she's put me

hop over the seat and come

scoff is so loud it almost blows out my mental eardrum. With those hulking brutes? No, thank you. Did you know

the window, watching the familiar

the backseat, startling all

me in confusion. "I heard she's great with all the

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181 Aw Mon

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

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

dog in question begins to sing the

and reaches into the back, coaxing

sitting in the middle

her head. "Your dog

idea," I mutter, though my mind

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

filled with concern. "How are you

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

Vanessa asks, her words soothing, a

me off guard What am I afraid of?