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

and I aren't exactly on talking terms

I say, trying to ooze casual, even if my ears would be perked as high as hell if I was a dog right

direction. "He thinks you should stay in Granite City, on Westwood lands, under

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 ass. And as for Alpha, w "Lucas

been doing that. However, there has been

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

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

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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

the backseat, who all seem to shrivel at

I whisper, even though they can hear

it great?" She winks at me. "Gotta stop the

"I'm not your-"

I

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

the seat and come up

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

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

backseat,

Vanessa asks me in

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181 Aw Mon

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

shaking her head. "The fact that she's able to be around

dog in question begins to sing the song of huskies everywhere. "She's a bit...

bodyguard finally gives in and reaches into the back, coaxing her

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

shakes her head.

mutter, though my mind is elsewhere as the

the entrance, each step bringing me

me, her eyes filled with concern. "How

I admit, surprised at how calm my voice sounds despite the turmoil

her words soothing, a balm to the anxious bubbling of my

off guard What am I afraid