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

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

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 is about

of crisis. I think he needs to get his head out of his ass. And as

However, there has been some

over the pack." She glances at me again, then back to the road.

Vester are also fated mates.

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101 AM

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

the backseat,

I whisper, even though they

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

"I'm not your-"

yes, I know. Not

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

can always hop over the seat and come

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

as I gaze out the window, watching the familiar scenery

howls in the backseat,

Vanessa asks me in confusion. "I heard

17:34

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181 Aw Mon

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

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. Dogs usually

as the dog in question begins to sing the

in and reaches into the back, coaxing her up front

the time we make it to the hospital, she's sitting in the middle seat, accepting the pets of both bodyguards as her

shakes her head. "Your

I mutter, though my mind

approach the entrance, each step

me, her eyes filled with concern. "How

trying to steady my nerves. "Nervous," I admit, surprised at how calm my voice sounds despite the turmoil

Vanessa asks, her words soothing, a balm to

question catches me off guard What am I afraid