Tangled
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171 Avar Trusting Vanessa

sa saws up before dinner, with a bag full of doctor stuff and @puu milar ny that tells me I'm got dong anything until she gets

she needs.

bel suffer through the blood pressure, my blood being drawn and Taken away by one of my new stone-faced bodyguards, of which there are at least 6, and a lot of questions she asks me every single day My answers haven't changed, but she still asks them.

I watch intently as Vanessa packs up her medical supplies, my mind churning with the weight of the secrets I'm keeping. With the balt- baked plans inside my head. With my desperate need to save Lisa from whatever fate the Mad Prince has planned.

1 wet my lips, trying to replace the right words.

Vanessa, how do you feel about keeping secrets from your mate?" The question slips out before I can stop it.

She pauses, a knowing smile playing on her lips, her eyes twinkling.

Trouble in paradise already with the overbearing Alpha?"

I glance toward the bedroom door "Can the bodyguards hear

verything we say in here?"

She looks amused, "No. Your prior Alpha had this room. soundproofed

Relief washes over me and I take her hands in fnine, desperation

171 Ava: Trusting Vanessa

clawing at my throat. "I have secrets, Vanessa. Secrets that I want. to share with you. Most of it is stuff Lucas knows, and some are things I haven't told him yet. But I need to know whose side you're

on."

Her expression sobers, her grip tightening on my hands. "Ava, I'm loyal to the Westwood pack and to my Alpha." She pauses, conflict. flickering in her eyes. "But I'm also loyal to my Luna. I can't give you a strai my own judgment. However, if this endangers the pack..."

"It won't," I assure her, my interruption swift. "It doesn't endanger Westwood. But Lucas won't like that I'm doing things without hist permission."

She watches me, caution on her face, even as she squeezes my hands in reassurance. "I can't give you a straight answer without knowing what it is. My answer stands. But I am here for you, Ava."

I struggle with her response, torn between the need to unburden myself and the fear of betrayal. Selene's voice echoes in my mind, urging me to trust Vanessa.

She's your best option right now, Selene reminds me gently. You need an ally, Ava.

I take a deep breath. "Selene isn't a dog. She's my wolf."

Vanessa's expression shifts to one of bewilderment. Her brows knit together, creasing her forehead as she processes my revelation.

"How is that possible?" she asks slowly, her eyes flickering between me and Selene, who yawns from her spot on the bed.

171 Ava Trusting Vanessa

I grimace. "Honestly, I've yet to get a straight answer out of her. It's impossible. She drinks secrets for breakfast. But Lucas knows

about her"

Relief is clear in Vanessa's eyes. "Oh. That's good, at least." But I can see the wheels turning in her head as she thinks things through.

Before she can ask for more clarity on things, I rush, "Selene thinks she can talk to my mother's wolf. I want to try. The real problem is that we have to force her to renounce her pack in order to keep Selene's ex "That might kill her," the healer says automatically, glancing again. toward Selene. "And only an alpha can force a switch in pack allegiance. Even then, it's only a temporary measure. She can always bond with "But they would need to be in physical contact."

"Yes. Which, I suppose, is unlikely to happen." Vanessa frowns. "Let me think this through for a moment. There has to be a better way." It would be good if there is, Selene agrees.

I watch as Vanessa paces around the room, her brow furrowed in concentration. She mutters under her breath, occasionally shaking her head as if dismissing ideas that don't quite fit. The sight of her deep in th Settling onto the bed beside Selene, I run my fingers through her soft fur, focusing on the sensation of her head and ears beneath my touch. It's a small comfort amidst the chaos swirling in my 171 Ave Trusting Vanessa

mind.

"Is it possible for Selene to pull the wolf's presence out if the human host is unconscious?" Vanessa asks suddenly, her gaze intense as she looks at me.

I glance down at Selene, who tilts her head, considering the question. It might be possible, she admits, her voice echoing in my mind. But there are too many variables to say for certain. "Selene says it might be possible, but there are too many variables to know for sure," I relay to Vanessa, watching as she absorbs the information.

Vanessa nods, her expression thoughtful. "And what about your mother's wolf? Will she be loyal to Renard?"

The question catches me off guard, and I replace myself at a loss for words. Loyalty is a complex thing, especially when it comes to the dynamics between a wolf and their alpha.

It's unlikely, Selene chimes in, sensing my uncertainty. Strong wolves usually chafe under alpha demands. But the bond between

your mother and her wolf is strong. It may override any desire to break free from Renard's control.

I repeat Selene's words to Vanessa, my heart sinking at the realization that even if we manage to separate my mother from her wolf, there's no guarantee that the wolf will be on our side. My entire plan rests on trying to convince the wolf to betray her alpha.

Vanessa absorbs the information, her lips pressed into a thin line. "So, we have a potential way to communicate with your mother's

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171 Ava: Trusting Vanessa

wolf, but no assurance that the wolf will cooperate."

I nod, my fingers tangling in Selene's fur as I try to quell the rising anxiety in my chest. "It's a risk," I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. "But it might be our only chance to get some answers." Vanessa meets my gaze, her eyes filled with a mixture of concern and determination. "I don't like the idea of putting

in danger, Ava. But I understand the need for answers." She sighs, running a hand through her hair. "Let me think a little more. I think this might work, but there are different things to consider..." Her voice trails off as she paces again, clearly deep in thought.

"Thank you, Vanessa. I know this isn't an easy situation."

Distracted by her plotting, she tosses me a vague smile. "Nothing about this is easy, Ava. But we'll figure it out. I'm not sure how we'll..."

Her voice trails off again as she begins to mutter.

I think she has a solid plan, Selene pipes up. The only issue will be getting our hands on something that will knock your mother out.

I shake my head slightly. Even if we do that, her wolf can always tell her about you. Then the danger is still there. She can mind-link with anyone still in the pack, and if they can get word back... Selene goes silent, just in time for my phone to ring.