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

casual, even if my ears would be perked as high as hell if I was a dog

with you," she adds, flicking a faint smile in my direction. "He thinks you should stay in Granite City, on Westwood lands, under guard at all times." "Oh." Distaste

alpha is not distracted during this time of crisis. I think he needs to get his head

that. However, there has

the pack." She glances at me again, then back to the road. "It's

and Vester are also fated mates. "It is. How

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101 AM

been 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 seem

power," I whisper, even though they can hear every

"Gotta stop the

"I'm not your-"

I

that she's

over the seat and

hulking brutes? No, thank

familiar scenery pass. You're the one

backseat,

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

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181 Aw Mon

hard, and Selerie begins to yowl like a cat in heat. "She's just upset

she's able to be around all of us without

lips quirk as the dog in question begins to sing the song of huskies

bodyguard finally gives in and reaches into the back, coaxing her up front like he's talking to a

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

her head.

mutter, though my mind is elsewhere as the

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

eyes filled with concern. "How are

I admit,

words soothing,

guard What