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

I aren't exactly on talking

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

faint smile in my direction. "He thinks you should stay in Granite City, on Westwood lands, under guard at all times." "Oh." Distaste is about the only thing

of crisis. I think he needs to get his head out of his

However, there has

absences, his search for you, and how he prioritizes you over the pack." She glances at me again, then back to the road. "It's rough when you have a

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

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101 AM

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 guys feel their

the backseat, who

power," I whisper, even though they can

it great?" She winks at me. "Gotta

"I'm not your-"

yes, I know.

like her, Selene says, but I don't like that she's put me in the back with all the

over the seat

almost blows out my mental eardrum. With those hulking brutes? No, thank you. Did you know they

lips quirk as I gaze out the window, watching the familiar scenery pass.

in the backseat, startling all of

hate the car?" Vanessa asks me in confusion. "I heard

17:34

310

181 Aw Mon

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

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

as the dog in question begins to sing the

of the drive, until one bodyguard finally gives in and reaches into the back, coaxing her up front like he's talking

in the middle seat, accepting the

shakes her head. "Your dog

I mutter, though my mind is elsewhere as the

each step bringing me

her eyes filled

nerves. "Nervous," I admit, surprised at how

words soothing,

guard What