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

"Vester and I aren't exactly

my ears would be perked as high

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 City, on Westwood lands, under guard at all times." "Oh." Distaste is about the only thing oozing out

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

doing that. However, there has been

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.

are also fated mates. "It is. How do

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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

in the backseat, who all seem to

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

me. "Gotta stop the

"I'm not your-"

I know. Not

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

hop over the seat

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

as I gaze out the window, watching the familiar scenery

the backseat, startling all

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

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181 Aw Mon

like a cat in heat.

able to be around all of us without slinking away is a sight I've never seen. Dogs usually run from

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

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

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

her head. "Your dog is

mutter, though my mind is elsewhere as the

entrance, each step bringing me closer to the inevitable

filled with concern. "How are

trying to steady my nerves. "Nervous," I admit,

soothing, a balm to the anxious bubbling

catches me off guard What am I afraid