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.

if he can't feel it, there's a part of him wanting to trust

to see

Fuck.

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

in hours, but

as if I can wash away the memory of Lucas staring at me like

It doesn't work.

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

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

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 way he

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

soft knock at the door startles me from my restless attempt at sleep. Before I can respond,

gentle

I'm on my

practically flying across the room and into her

contact until this moment. The solitude of the past few hours weighs on me, making Vanessa's presence a lifeline I cling

she murmurs, rubbing soothing circles on

at my eyes. "Sorry,

face is grim as she asks, "How

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

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

nod, holding

Vanessa's gaze

says, "I'm so glad he's doing well. Such

she pulls a small notebook from her pocket. She scribbles something

listened to. There might

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