Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted novel Chapter 110

110 Lisa: Ava’s Absence (III)

Lucas’s shoulders stiffen, and he turns to look at the

healer with a frown. “Still no answers?” he asks, his voice rough with disuse.

Vanessa sighs, her expression sympathetic. “I’m sorry, Alpha. We’re doing everything we can.”

Lucas nods curtly and turns back to Ava, his brow furrowed in thought. Vanessa catches my eye over his shoulder and gives me a subtle shake of her head.

At first, I’m confused. But then it hits me–she must be trying to tell me that Ava isn’t pregnant. A wave of relief washes over me, followed immediately by a pang of guilt. I shouldn’t be happy about this, not when Ava is still lying there unresponsive.

But at least it’s one less thing to worry about. One less complication in an already tangled web.

I slump back in my chair, suddenly exhausted. It’s been a long day, and the emotional roller coaster has taken. its toll. I close my eyes, just for a moment, and let the steady rhythm of Ava’s heartbeat lull me into a light

doze.

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110 Lisa: Ava’s Absence (1)

I’m not sure how much time passes before I’m startled awake by a soft knock at the door. Vanessa pokes her head in, her expression apologetic.

“Sorry to disturb you,” she says, keeping her voice low. “But I thought you might want to know–Kellan just arrived with Ava’s dog.”

I sit up straighter, blinking the sleep from my eyes.

“Selene’s here?”

Vanessa nods. “He’s got her out in the waiting room. I can bring her in, if you’d like.”

I glance over at Lucas, gauging his reaction. He’s still staring at Ava, but I can see the tension in his jaw, the way his hands clench and unclench around her hand.

But he’s not protesting.

“I think it would be good for her,” I say, since he seems content with letting me make the decision.

Vanessa steps aside as Kellan enters the room, a scrawny silver husky trailing behind him on a leash. For a moment, I’m not sure if it’s really Selene–she looks thinner than I remember from pictures, her fur matted and dull. But then she catches sight of Ava

luing in the hoonital had and late out a high–nitshad

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110 Lisa Ava’s Absence (1)

whine that breaks my heart.

Before anyone can react, Selene lunges forward, nearly yanking the leash out of Kellan’s grip. She scrambles

onto the bed, her paws slipping on the crisp white sheets as she tries to get closer to Ava. Lucas starts to rise from his chair, his hand outstretched to shoo the dog away, but I’m faster.

“Wait,” I say, grabbing his wrist. His skin is hot beneath my fingers, and I can feel the tension thrumming through him like a live wire. “I think… I think it might be good for her. To have Selene close.” I can’t admit why, but I can at least try to make it happen.

Lucas turns to me, his eyes flashing with something dark and dangerous. A growl rumbles low in his throat, and I feel my heart stutter in my chest. Oh God. What have I done? The look on his face… it’s like he’s barely holding himself back from tearing me apart.

But I can’t back down now. Not when Ava needs me.

I swallow hard, my grip tightening on his wrist even as my hand trembles. “Please,” I whisper, my voice