Tangled

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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

if my ears would be perked as high as hell if I

flicking a faint smile in my direction. "He thinks you should stay in

to keep you under guard and safe so his alpha is not distracted during this time of crisis. I think he needs to get his

However,

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

that she and Vester are also fated

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101 AM

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

backseat, who all seem to shrivel

I whisper, even though they

winks at me. "Gotta stop the gossips before

"I'm not your-"

yes, I know. Not

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

hop over the seat and come up

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

familiar scenery pass. You're the one who showed up as a

in the backseat,

Vanessa asks me in

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181 Aw Mon

I pop the 'p' hard, and Selerie begins to yowl like a cat in heat. "She's just upset she's in the

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

to sing the song of huskies

until one bodyguard finally gives in and reaches into the back, coaxing

hospital, she's sitting in the middle seat, accepting the pets of

her head.

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

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

me, her eyes filled with

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

are you afraid of?" Vanessa asks, her words soothing, a balm to the anxious bubbling of

What am I afraid