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. Knowing I'm his

see me for

Fuck.

time he spent waiting patiently for me, delivered express mail with cash on delivery. Now it's my turn to wait

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

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

That's what I need. Just a few hours to reset my brain and maybe wake up and find this has all

to discover as I flop from

13

275 Ava: Visitors

mind, of every moment of my encounter with Lucas. The confusion in his eyes. The way

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

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

Vanessa's gentle voice

I'm on my

an instant, practically flying across

hadn't realized how desperately I needed human contact until this moment. The solitude of the past few hours weighs on me, making Vanessa's

she murmurs, rubbing soothing circles on

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

she

barely above a whisper. "How much

before meeting mine again. "About Alpha, you

holding

Vanessa's gaze

slightly as she says, "I'm so glad

until she pulls a small notebook from her pocket. She scribbles something quickly, then turns it

widen. Of course. We're being watched, listened to. There might even be a traitor somewhere. We can't talk about

crying out of sheer