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

aren't exactly on

be perked as high as hell if I was a dog right

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

We are in disagreement. He thinks it's better 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 head out of his

doing that. However, there has been some

glances at me again, then back to the road. "It's rough when

also fated

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101 AM

mated for six years. We're at a 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 borne STD and let you guys

watch the bodyguards in the backseat, who all

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

"Gotta stop the gossips before they

"I'm not your-"

I

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

the seat

is so loud it almost blows out my mental eardrum. With those hulking brutes? No, thank you. Did you know they picked me

watching the familiar scenery pass. You're the

backseat, startling all of

car?" Vanessa asks me in confusion. "I heard she's great

17:34

310

181 Aw Mon

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

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

in question begins to sing

in and reaches

make it to the hospital, she's sitting in the middle seat, accepting the

head. "Your dog

mind is elsewhere as

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

glances at me, her eyes filled

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

asks, her words soothing, a balm to the anxious

question catches me off guard What am I afraid of?