Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 110 Lisa: Ava's Absence (lll)

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 givesa subtle shake of her head.

At first, I'm confused. But then it hits me—she must be trying to tellthat Ava isn't pregnant. A wave of relief

washes over me, followed immediately by a pang of guilt. | 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.

| slump back in my chair, suddenly exhausted. It's been a long day, and the emotional roller coaster has taken its

toll. | close my eyes, just for a moment, and let the steady rhythm of Ava's heartbeat lullinto a light doze.

I'm not sure how much tpasses 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 | thought you might want to know—Kellan just

arrived with Ava's dog."

| sit up straighter, blinking the sleep from my eyes. "Selene's here?"

Vanessa nods. "He's got her out in the waiting room. | can bring her in, if you'd like."

| glance over at Lucas, gauging his reaction. He's still staring at Ava, but | 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," | say, since he seems content with lettingmake 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 | remember from pictures, her fur matted and

dull. But then she catches sight of Ava lying in the hospital bed and lets out a high-pitched 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," | say, grabbing his wrist. His skin is hot beneath my fingers, and | can feel the tension thrumming through

him like a live wire. "I think... | think it might be good for her. To have Selene close." | can't admit why, but | 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 |

feel my heart stutter in my chest. Oh God. What have | done? The look on his face... it's like he's barely holding

himself back from tearingapart.

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

| swallow hard, my grip tightening on his wrist even as my hand trembles. "Please," | whisper, my voice cracking.

"Just let her stay."

For a moment, Lucas doesn't move. He just stares at me, his jaw clenched so tightly I'm afraid he might crack a

tooth. Then, slowly, he raises his free hand, and | brace myself for the blow.

But it never comes.

Instead, there's a sharp snap of teeth, and | realize that Selene has risen to her feet on the bed. She's standing

over Ava's unconscious form, her hackles raised and her lips pulled back in a snarl. And she's not just protecting

Ava—she's protectingtoo, her body angled slightly to the side to put herself betweenand Lucas.

The room falls silent, the tension so thick | can barely breathe. Lucas and Selene stare each other down, husky to

wolf. And Selene's not losing.

| can feel the muscles in Lucas's arm bunch beneath my fingers, and for a second, I'm sure he's going to lunge

for the dog.

But then, miraculously, he takes a step back. His eyes never leave Selene's, but he lowers his hand, his fingers

uncurling from the fist he'd been making.

"Fine," he grits out, his voice tight with barely contained rage. "The dog can stay. For now."

My knees almost buckle with relief, but | manage to keep standing, walking to the other side of the bed to get

away from Lucas.

But Selene doesn't move. She stays right where she is, her body curved protectively around Ava's still form. And

when she finally lowers her head to rest it on Ava's chest, | swear | see something flicker in her icy blue eyes.

"Good girl," | murmur, my voice barely above a whisper. "You stay with her, okay? She needs you."

Selene's ear twitches in my direction, but she doesn't lift her head. It's like she's tellingshe knows.

Rage simmers around Lucas, but he sits down and holds onto Ava's hand again, as if he didn't just cause a

ruckus.

This fated mates shit is for the birds. | thought it was kind of hot before; now, | want to take Ava and run far from

this place.

Possessive alphas sound hot in theory, but in real life, they're a mess.

| sink back into my chair, my legs suddenly feeling like jelly. I'm exhausted, physically and emotionally drained

from the events of the past few hours. But | know | can't leave Ava's side. Not now. Not when she needs me

most.

So | settle in for the long haul, my eyes fixed on the rise and fall of Ava's chest beneath Selene's watchful gaze.

And | pray to whatever gods might be listening that my best friend will wake up soon.

Because | don't know what I'll do if she doesn't.

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