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

to see

Fuck.

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

skin, hot to turn it pink. It's my second shower in hours, but I can't shake the depression clinging to

is raw and angry red, as if I can wash away the memory of Lucas staring at me like

It doesn't work.

the hot water runs out. Dressing in the clothes I was just

Just a few hours to reset my brain and maybe wake up and find this has all been

discover as I flop from left to right, then from belly to back, struggling to find a position that brings

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 way he spoke like

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

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

realized how desperately I needed human contact until this moment. The solitude of the past few hours weighs on

she murmurs, rubbing

pull back, wiping at my eyes. "Sorry, I just...

she

my voice barely above a whisper. "How much do you

to the side before meeting mine again.

holding my

Vanessa's gaze

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

pocket. She scribbles something quickly,

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

"Did you break down crying out of sheer relief