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

I say, trying to ooze casual, even if my ears would be perked as high as hell if I was a dog right

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

that. However, there has been

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

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

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101 AM

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.

I watch the bodyguards in the backseat, who all

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

winks at me. "Gotta stop the

"I'm not your-"

yes, I know. Not

like that

over the

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

out the window, watching the familiar scenery pass. You're the one

backseat, startling all

Vanessa asks me in confusion.

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181 Aw Mon

begins to yowl like a cat in heat. "She's just

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

the dog in question begins to sing the

bodyguard finally gives in and reaches into

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

shakes her head. "Your dog

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

entrance, each step bringing me closer to the inevitable confrontation

filled with concern. "How are you

deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "Nervous," I

words soothing, a balm to the

catches me off guard What am I afraid