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

doesn't want to see me for the rest of the

Fuck.

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

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

I can wash

It doesn't work.

in the clothes I was just wearing-they're still

hours to reset my brain and maybe wake up and find this has

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

13

275 Ava: Visitors

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

as I flip from side to side. Minutes stretch into what feels like hours. My

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

Vanessa's gentle

I'm on my

in an instant, practically flying across the room and into her

The solitude of the past few hours weighs on me, making Vanessa's presence

sweetie," she murmurs, rubbing soothing circles on my

my eyes. "Sorry,

she asks, "How are you

my voice barely above a whisper. "How much

side before meeting mine again. "About Alpha,

nod, holding my

Vanessa's gaze

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

a small notebook from her pocket. She scribbles something quickly, then turns it so

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

is unnaturally cheerful as she asks, "Did you break down crying out