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.

feel it, there's a part of him wanting to trust me. Knowing

to see me for the

Fuck.

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

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

until my skin is raw and angry red, as if I

It doesn't work.

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

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

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

13

275 Ava: Visitors

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

side to side. Minutes stretch into what feels like hours. My

soft knock at the door startles me from my restless attempt at sleep.

Vanessa's gentle voice

I'm on my

in an instant, practically flying across the

contact until this moment. The solitude of

she murmurs, rubbing soothing circles on my

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

face is grim as she asks, "How are

voice barely above a whisper. "How much

before meeting mine again. "About Alpha,

nod, holding

Vanessa's gaze

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

notebook from her pocket. She scribbles something quickly, then turns it so I can read: / know about his memory

might even be a traitor

"Did you break down crying out of sheer relief in the hallway? I heard rumors