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

I aren't exactly on talking terms right

be perked as high as hell if I was

my direction. "He thinks you should stay in Granite City, on Westwood lands, under guard at all times." "Oh." Distaste is about the

so his alpha is not distracted during this time of crisis. I think

doing that. However, there has

with his long 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

also fated mates. "It

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101 AM

Slowing for a red light, she leans back in the seat, glancing

the backseat, who all

whisper, even though they can hear every word

at me. "Gotta stop the gossips before

"I'm not your-"

I know.

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

over the seat and

brutes? No, thank you. Did you know

I gaze out the window, watching the familiar scenery pass. You're

backseat, startling all

hate the car?" Vanessa asks me in confusion. "I heard

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181 Aw Mon

hard, and Selerie begins to yowl like a cat in heat. "She's just

the rearview mirror, shaking her head. "The fact that she's able to be around all of us without slinking away is a sight

begins to

in and reaches into the back, coaxing her up front like he's talking to a

in the

head. "Your dog is

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

heart races as we approach the entrance, each step bringing me closer to the

me, her eyes filled

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

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

off guard What am