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.

17:33

16

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

"Vester and I aren't exactly

would be perked as high as hell if I was a dog right

about 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 times." "Oh." Distaste is about the only thing oozing out of me now, and

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

been doing that. However, there

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

fated mates. "It is. How do you

17:33

2/6

101 AM

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

backseat,

whisper, even though they can

She winks at me. "Gotta stop the gossips before

"I'm not your-"

yes, I

that she's put me in the back with

can always hop over the seat and

With those hulking brutes? No, thank

out the window, watching the familiar

in the backseat, startling

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

17:34

310

181 Aw Mon

a cat in heat. "She's

fact that she's able to be around all of us without slinking away is a sight I've never seen. Dogs

the dog in question begins to

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

the time we make it to the hospital, she's sitting in the middle seat,

head. "Your dog is

though my mind is

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

me, her eyes filled with concern. "How

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

Vanessa asks, her words soothing, a balm to

off guard What am I afraid