Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 163 Ava: Mom (lll)

Each word is like a dagger to my heart, twisting and tearing at the fragile threads of my composure. | feel myself

crumbling beneath the pain, a tear slipping down my cheek, hot and heavy with the weight of a lifetof

misery.

But then, amidst the chaos of my emotions, Vanessa's words echo in my mind: "Your mother no longer has any

power over you. All the power she holds is in the past, in memories."

I cling to those words like a lifeline, using them to anchor myself in the present. Taking a deep, shuddering

breath, | meet my mother's gaze head-on.

"No, Mom," | say, my voice growing stronger with each word. "I didn't ruin anything. Nor did I fail. | was a child

who deserved to live with her family. With happiness. You failed me.

You should have sheltered me. Loved me. And you never did."

My voice cracks a little, and | clear my throat. "I'm not here for you. I'm not here as your daughter. | just want to

know what information you have about the vampires." My gaze meets hers, and this t| make sure to keep

my face flat. Devoid of emotion.

I can't let her see how much she affects me.

"This is your last chance, Mom. The moment | tell Lucas that you have nothing to tell—"

"He will killas soon as | give him the information he seeks," she says, turning her face away from mine with a

wave of her hand that | recognize.

Dismissal.

"I'm not stupid. My life is forfeit. | won't sell my children in order to help you."

"I'm your child, Mom. It isn't just Phoenix or Jessa. Me. | exist. You broughtinto this world. You rockedas a

baby.

You changed my diapers. You kissedevery night before | went to sleep. | am just as much your child."

Damn it. | can't stop the anger.

"You are a deceiver. You cannot be my child. No defect would be borne of my womb!"

Her weak voice grows strong as she screams.

This is not the mother | remember.

This is not an elegant lady.

Her face is twisted with hate, her mouth spitting vitriol, her eyes wild and bulging. "You are no wolf. You are no

child of mine. You should be grateful | kept you alive all these years!"

"Do not callby that name!"

She reaches in a frenzy for anything that she can throw, and settles on a pillow, tossing it ineffectually in my

direction.

"Get away from me, you demonspawn child. You are not mine! You were never mine!"

The shrill beeping of the machines pierces the air.

| stare in shock as the room erupts into chaos. Nurses rush past me, their faces set in grim determination as they

surround my mother, now thrashing in ssort of frenzied rage.

Vanessa's hands grab my shoulders, firm and steady, guidingaway from the bed. | stumble, my legs

quivering beneath me.

"Ava, we need to go." Vanessa's voice is low and urgent in my ear. "Let the nurses handle this."

But | can't tear my eyes away from my mother. She writhes on the bed, her screams rising above the beeping

and the nurses' calm commands. Her eyes, wild and fevered, lock onto mine, and for a moment, I'm frozen in

place.

"Mom..." The word slips from my lips, barely audible above the commotion.

But she doesn't hear me. Or if she does, she shows no sign of it. Her screams only grow louder, more frantic, as

she fights against the nurses’ restraining hands.

"No!" she shrieks, her voice raw and ragged. "Get away from me! You're all in on it! You're all trying to kill me!"

Vanessa's grip tightens on my shoulders, and she pullstowards the door with more force. "Ava, we need to

go. Now."

This time, | don't resist. | allow her to guideout of the room, my feet moving of their own accord. The

screams and beeping fade behind us as the door swings shut, but they echo in my mind.

Haunting.

Horrible.

A nightmare of a reunion, and—I know deep in my heart—the final chapter in our mother-daughter story.

Breathe, Ava. Selene's voice is a soothing balm, a reminder to focus on the present.

I draw in a shaky breath, then another. The cool air of the hospital corridor fills my lungs, offensively clean, like

rubbing alcohol for my senses.

My hands are freezing and my feet are numb, causingto stumble every few steps.

But the sound of my mother's screaming is faded, bringingback to the present.

Vanessa's hands fall away from my shoulders as she steps in front of me, her eyes searching my face with

concern.

"Are you alright?" she asks softly.

| open my mouth to respond, but no words come. Am | alright? | don't know. | feel numb, hollowed out, as if my

mother's words have carved away a piece of me.

Selene presses against my leg, her warmth seeping through my jeans. | reach down automatically to stroke her

fur, finding comfort in the familiar texture.

You're okay, she whispers in my mind. You're safe.

| nod, more to myself than to Vanessa or Selene. Yes, I'm safe. But the ache in my chest, the dull throb of an old

wound reopened, suggests otherwise.

It's fine.

I'm going to be okay.

Mom can't hurtanymore.

The pain will fade.

Vanessa's hand comes to rest on my arm, a gentle pressure. "Ava, | know this is hard. But you did the right thing,

coming here. Now we know she has no information to give willingly. We can focus on other leads."

There are nurses staring at us, whispering behind their desks. I'm sure rumors will fly soon. I'm not sure how

many of these humans realize that they're watching their own wolfish , no subscription required.

The thought makes my lips quirk. Yes, today would have been an excellent episode for one of Selene's trashy

shows.

Perhaps that's all my life is.

A story, meant for the masses, bringing my wounds on display—

Your life story doesn't define you, Selene murmurs. Your choices do.

Right.

| square my shoulders, trying to fake confidence. Nothing gets past Vanessa's eyes, of course, but I'm

determined to walk out of this damn building with my pride intact.

"Can you let Lucas know this was a waste of time? We should get a flight ready to go back to Granite City soon."

There's no point being here anymore.

It was silly to think this would have ever taken more than the few minutes | spent in there.

Why even pack? | should go htonight.

"Let's get you back to the lodge so you can rest, first." Vanessa grabs my hand with a gentle squeeze. "This kind

of situation is exhausting. You should eat and take a nap. I'll schedule a flight for tomorrow. Nothing will change if

you get back a few hours earlier."

I let her pullto the car, too tired to argue.

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