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

"Vester and I aren't exactly on talking terms right

would be perked as

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

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

been doing that. However, there has

glances at me again, then back

she and Vester are also fated mates. "It is. How do

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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

I watch the bodyguards in the backseat, who all

of power," I whisper, even though

She winks at me. "Gotta stop

"I'm not your-"

yes, I know.

don't like that

over the seat and come up

out my mental eardrum. With those hulking brutes? No, thank

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

howls in the backseat, startling all

the car?" Vanessa asks me in confusion.

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181 Aw Mon

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

pecks into the rearview mirror, shaking her head. "The fact that she's able to be around all of us without

lips quirk as the dog in question begins to

bodyguard finally gives in and reaches into the back,

she's sitting in the middle seat, accepting

her head.

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

approach the entrance, each step bringing me closer

her eyes filled with concern. "How are

breath, trying to steady my nerves. "Nervous," I admit, surprised

of?" Vanessa asks, her words soothing,

What am