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 right

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

you should stay in Granite City, on Westwood lands, under guard at all times." "Oh." Distaste is about the only thing oozing

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

that. However, there has

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

that she and Vester are also fated mates. "It

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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

bodyguards in the backseat, who all seem to shrivel at her

though they can hear every word because...

me. "Gotta stop the gossips before they

"I'm not your-"

I know. Not

don't like that she's put me in the back

can always hop over the seat and come up

hulking brutes? No,

I gaze out the window, watching the familiar scenery pass. You're the one who showed up as a

in the backseat, startling all of

asks me in confusion. "I heard she's

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181 Aw Mon

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

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. Dogs

begins to sing the

bodyguard finally gives in and reaches into the back, coaxing her up front

in

head. "Your dog is

my mind

races as we approach the entrance, each step bringing me closer to the inevitable confrontation with my

her eyes filled

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

of?" Vanessa asks, her words soothing, a balm to

question catches me off guard What