Tangled

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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

I aren't exactly on talking terms right

ears would be

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

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.

doing that. However, there has

and how he prioritizes you over the pack." She glances at me again, then back

Vester are also fated mates. "It is. How do you two handle the

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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,

an abuse of power," I whisper, even though they

"Gotta stop the gossips before they

"I'm not your-"

I know.

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

always hop over the seat and come up

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

the familiar

howls in the backseat, startling

Vanessa asks me in confusion. "I

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181 Aw Mon

yowl like a cat

be around all of us without slinking away is a sight I've never seen. Dogs

question begins to sing the song of huskies everywhere.

singing punctuates the rest of the drive, until one bodyguard finally gives in and reaches into the back,

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

shakes her head. "Your dog is

no idea," I mutter, though my mind

we approach the entrance, each step bringing me

eyes filled with concern. "How

a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "Nervous," I admit, surprised at how calm

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

off guard What