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

exactly on talking terms right

would be

you," she adds, flicking a faint smile in my direction. "He thinks you should stay in Granite City, on Westwood lands, 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

doing that. However, there

the pack." She glances at me again, then

are also fated mates. "It is. How do

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101 AM

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 feel

the backseat, who

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

She winks at me. "Gotta stop the

"I'm not your-"

yes, I know. Not

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

over the seat and

brutes? No, thank you. Did you know they picked me

the window, watching the familiar

howls in the backseat,

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

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181 Aw Mon

pop the 'p' hard, and Selerie begins to yowl like a cat in

the rearview mirror, shaking her head. "The fact that she's able to be around all of us without slinking away is a sight I've never seen.

lips quirk as the dog in question begins to sing

until one bodyguard finally gives in and reaches into the back, coaxing her up front

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

shakes her head. "Your dog is

no idea," I mutter, though my mind is elsewhere as the tall building looms before

the entrance, each step bringing me closer

at me, her eyes filled with

I

are you afraid of?" Vanessa asks, her words soothing, a balm

me off guard What am I