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

and I aren't exactly on

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

and I don't agree about how to deal with you," she adds, flicking a faint smile in my direction. "He thinks you should stay in Granite

under guard and safe so his alpha is not distracted during this time of crisis. I think he needs to get

doing that. However,

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 fated mate. The pull is

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

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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

watch the bodyguards in the backseat, who all seem to

I whisper, even though they can

great?" She winks at me. "Gotta stop the gossips before they start,

"I'm not your-"

I know.

like her, Selene says, but I don't like that she's put

the seat and come

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

the window, watching the familiar scenery pass.

the backseat, startling all of

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

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181 Aw Mon

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

that she's able to be around all of us without slinking away is a

in question begins to sing the song of huskies everywhere.

drive, until one bodyguard finally gives in and reaches into

sitting in the middle seat, accepting

her head. "Your dog is

mind is

heart races as we approach the entrance, each step bringing

me, her eyes filled with concern. "How are you

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

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

question catches me off guard What am I afraid