Tangled

Unshift 275

Unshift 275

275 Ava: Visitors

"Ava." D

My head feels like it weighs a million pounds. My ears feel stuffed and woolly. And Kellan's hands. dragging me to my feet are like burning embers pressed against my skin.

"What?"

"You passed out."

Staring at him blankly, it takes a while for my brain to catch up to his words. "Oh. Shit. I guess that's one way to deal with stress; just let your body shut down.

Don't really recommend it.

and Kellan doesn't ask questions about my visit with Lucas, just escorts me back to the cottage a makes sure I'm taken care of. Brings lunch I don't want to eat and promises to check on me in

another hour or two.

Of course, lunch is out of the question. My stomach's too queasy for that. And until Sister Miriam and Selene return, I don't have a great way to get information on what happened to Lucas' wolf. I'm definitely not going to tell people he doesn't have one; the pack needs stability, not another

blow.

I'm not even sure Kellan knows.

I

The thought that Lucas may have trusted me with a little secret buoys my depressed spirits by a

millimeter or two.

even if he can't feel it, there's a part of him wanting to trust me. Knowing I'm his

if he doesn't want to see me for the rest of the

Fuck.

for me, delivered express mail with cash on delivery. Now it's my turn

in hours, but I can't shake the depression clinging to

hard, until my skin is raw and angry red, as if I can wash away the memory of

It doesn't work.

runs out. Dressing in the clothes I was just wearing-they're still clean. -I

few hours to reset my brain and maybe wake up

flop from left to right, then from belly to back, struggling to find a

13

275 Ava: Visitors

eyes shut, sleep doesn't come. Instead, there's a constant replay in my mind, of every moment of my encounter with Lucas. The confusion in his eyes. The

tangle around my legs as I flip from side to side. Minutes stretch into what feels like hours.

from my restless

Vanessa's gentle voice calls

I'm on my

across the room

how desperately I needed human contact until this moment. The solitude of the past

murmurs, rubbing soothing circles on my

eyes. "Sorry, I just... it's been a

she asks, "How are

great," I admit, my voice barely

side before meeting mine again.

nod, holding

Vanessa's gaze

voice rises slightly as she says, "I'm so glad he's doing well. Such a relief to see him

her pocket. She scribbles something quickly, then turns it so I can read: / know

widen. Of course. We're being watched, listened to. There might even be

cheerful as she asks, "Did you break down crying out of sheer relief in the hallway? I