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

aren't exactly on talking

if my ears would be perked as high as hell if I

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 of me now, and she

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

However, there

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

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

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101 AM

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

backseat, who

even though they can hear every

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

"I'm not your-"

I know. Not

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

over the

it almost blows out my mental eardrum. With those hulking brutes? No, thank you.

familiar scenery pass. You're the one

the backseat, startling all of

the car?" Vanessa asks me in confusion.

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181 Aw Mon

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

able to be around all of us without

begins to sing the song of huskies everywhere. "She's a bit...

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

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

shakes her head. "Your dog

have no idea," I mutter, though my mind is elsewhere

step

me, her eyes filled with concern. "How are

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

asks, her words soothing, a balm to the anxious

me off guard What am I