Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted novel Chapter 108

108 Lisa: Ava’s Absence (I)

LISA 

Lucas is bigger than I thought he’d be.

The thought comes randomly as I stare at him across Ava’s bed. He never spares me a glance; he’s attuned to her every breath. There’s pain etched across his face that makes my heart ache for him.

I’m hurting, too. But this fated mate connection that

shifters have…

It’s on another level.

Kissing the back of Ava’s hand, I lower my head to pray for the hundredth time today.

Dear Lord, please hear my prayer. I know I don’t go to church and I don’t follow your commandments. I know 

I’m a terrible Christian. I’m not even sure I am

Christian. But I know you’re supposed to care about all of us, so please–if you’re listening–please, save Ava.

She deserves so much more than this.

Of course, there’s no answer. Half of me is hoping for a miracle, but the other half knows the prayer’s

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108 Lisa Ava’s Absence (1)

pointless.

There’s nothing any of us can do.

The doctors are confused. All they can say is that she’s stable and should wake up when she’s ready.

But why is she even in this bed in the first place?

We didn’t do anything extra strenuous.

She’s been healing fine.

So why?

Vanessa’s words about Ava’s wolf have me worried, but

I can’t just tell them about Selene. These are Ava’s

secrets.

Even if keeping the secret means Ava never wakes up? the logical side of me whispers.

I don’t know.

So I stay silent, because there isn’t much to say.

I traveled here with little notice to my friends and family. My parents are still pissed at me, I’m pretty sure. Mom’s changed our group chat name from My Happy Randalls to Empty Nest Randalls with a sad emoji, and she hasn’t spoken in there since the day I

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108 Lisa Ava’s Absence (1)

told her I was moving.

Dad still puts money in my bank account every week. He’s not thrilled, but he’s not about to let me go homeless or anything.

Ava’s the only thing for me here in Granite City, and now I’m terrified that she won’t be here much longer.

Dramatic? Maybe. But there’s been so much lately…

She’s even worried about being pregnant.

Wait. Pregnant.

Did she ever get an answer on that?

Could… she be pregnant?

Could that be why?

The thought settles like a lead weight in my stomach as I glance toward Lucas. His presence is intimidating on a good day, but right now, with Ava unconscious in the hospital bed between us, it’s suffocating. The urge to ask him about shifter pregnancies rises in my throat, but I swallow it back down.

How do you even bring up that kind of question? Hey, Alpha of the Westwood Pack, you don’t know me, but 

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108 Lisa: Ava’s Absence (1)

I’m Ava’s best friend. Quick question, could getting knocked up by a werewolf, who by the way wasn’t you, cause a girl to go into a coma? Asking for a friend. 

Yeah, no. That’s not happening.

But the question lingers, nagging at the back of my mind. Ava mentioned worrying about being pregnant, but we never really circled back to that topic. There was always something else going on, some new crisis. to deal with.

Now, with her lying so still and pale against the white hospital sheets, I can’t help but wonder if that could be the reason behind all of this.

1. to. As I walk, my mind churns with questions and worries, each one more unsettling than the last.

Please be okay, Ava. Please wake up.