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

want to see me for the rest of the

Fuck.

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

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

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

It doesn't work.

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

That's what I need. Just a few hours to reset my brain

I flop from left to right, then

13

275 Ava: Visitors

in my mind, of every moment of my encounter with Lucas. The confusion in his eyes. The way he spoke like none of our history involved him

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

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

gentle

I'm on my

flying across the

hadn't realized how desperately I needed human contact until this moment. The solitude of the past

rubbing

my eyes. "Sorry,

grim as she asks,

great," I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. "How much

side before meeting mine again. "About Alpha,

nod, holding my

Vanessa's gaze

Her voice rises slightly as she says, "I'm

furrows my brow until she pulls a small notebook from her pocket. She scribbles something quickly,

might even be a traitor somewhere. We can't talk about his

"Did you break down crying out of sheer relief in