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.

part of him wanting to trust me.

want to see me for the

Fuck.

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

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

my skin is raw and angry red, as if I

It doesn't work.

Dressing in the clothes I

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

pillow, leaving them for me to discover as I flop from left to right, then from belly

13

275 Ava: Visitors

a constant replay in my mind, of every moment of my encounter with Lucas. The confusion in his eyes. The way he spoke

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

restless attempt

gentle

I'm on my

in an instant, practically flying across the room

until this moment. The solitude of the past few hours weighs

rubbing soothing

at my eyes. "Sorry, I

she asks, "How

my voice barely

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

nod, holding

Vanessa's gaze

voice rises slightly as she says, "I'm so glad he's

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

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

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