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.

it, there's a part of him wanting to trust me.

doesn't want to see

Fuck.

the time he spent waiting patiently for me, delivered express mail with

pink. It's my second shower in hours, but I can't shake the depression clinging to me like

angry red, as if I can wash away the memory of Lucas staring at

It doesn't work.

in the clothes I was just wearing-they're still clean. -I flop onto the

brain and maybe wake up and find this has all been

damp hair leaves wet spots on the pillow, leaving them for me to discover as I flop from

13

275 Ava: Visitors

tightly I screw my 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 way

I flip from side to side. Minutes stretch into what feels like hours. My eyes burn with

knock at the door startles me from my restless attempt at sleep. Before I

Vanessa's gentle voice calls

I'm on my

practically flying across the room and

how desperately I needed human contact until this moment. The solitude of the past few hours weighs on me, making Vanessa's presence a lifeline I

rubbing soothing circles on

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

is grim as she asks, "How

Not great," I admit, my voice barely

the side before meeting mine again. "About Alpha, you

nod, holding

Vanessa's gaze

slightly as she says, "I'm so glad he's doing well.

scribbles something quickly, then turns it so I can read: / know

listened to. There might even be a traitor

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