LISA

A knock on Vanessa''s door has me jumping.

The healer reaches over to pat my hand again. "Don''t worry, dear. It''s just the pack beta. Come in, Kellan."

The door swings open and Kellan strides in like he owns the place. Damn, why does he have to look like that? All broad shoulders and stubble along his jaw. And his hair is always a tousled mess, like those old romance movies with teen heartthrobs. I love those movies, and he''s got that dirty blond heartbreaker look down to every tiny detail.

I tear my gaze away, cursing my weakness. This is so not the time to be noticing Kellan''s undeniable hotness. I have got to get a handle on my weakness for sexy men.

"Healer Vanessa," he greets with a polite nod before those piercing gray eyes land on me. "Lisa, we need to head back to your apartment. Lucas brought a dog home."

Is he serious right now? Rage flares hot in my veins. "Are you kidding me? You want me to go take care of some random dog while my best friend is lying unconscious in a hospital bed?"

Kellan blinks, taken aback. "It''s Ava''s dog. Lucas thought—"

"Oh, I''m sure Lucas thought a lot of things. And you just go along with it, don''t you? Never mind what I might want." The words pour out of me in a furious torrent, all the fear and frustration bubbling over. "You''re always making these executive decisions without even asking. Newsflash, Kellan—the world doesn''t revolve around you and your precious Alpha!"

Vanessa''s eyes widen as she watches my tirade. Kellan just stares, his mouth slightly agape. I''m breathing hard, hands clenched into fists.

"I... I didn''t mean..." Kellan clears his throat, shifting on his feet. "Lisa, I''m just trying to look out for Ava''s best interests here."

"And you think hers align with yours?" I scoff. "Please. You don''t know the first thing about what Ava needs right now."

"Then enlighten me," he grits out, annoyance starting to seep into his tone.

I square my shoulders, meeting his glare head-on. "She needs support. Compassion. Not to be treated like some pawn in your pack''s power plays."

"That''s not—"

Vanessa shrugs, a knowing smile playing at her lips. "Nothing, dear. Just an observation."

Shaking my head, I hold up both hands. "Let me stop you there. Yes, Kellan''s hot. Like, super hot. I''d have to be blind not to notice. But I want nothing to do with his egotistical ass.

He never considers other people when he does things. It''s a major turn-off."

"Of course it is, dear." Vanessa pats my hand yet again, but this time, it feels minorly condescending instead of comforting.

Even so, I don''t scowl. If I do, I''ll come off as a bratty teen, instead of a grown ass woman who''s capable of hating a certain handsome beta.

I take a deep breath and steel myself before stepping back into Ava''s room. Lucas is still there, looming over her bed like some brooding shadow of a man. His eyes never leave her face. The intensity of his gaze sends a shiver down my spine.

As I approach the bed, I swear I hear a low growl emanating from Lucas''s chest. It''s so quiet, almost a whisper of sound.

Yet when I look at him, his expression is as stoic as ever, his eyes fixed on Ava''s unconscious form.

Unnerved, I settle into the chair on the opposite side of the bed and reach for Ava''s hand. Her skin is cool to the touch, and I give her fingers a gentle squeeze.

"I''m back, Avie," I whisper, brushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead. "I''m right here. We''re all waiting for you to wake up, okay? So don''t keep us in suspense too long."

My attempt at levity falls flat in the heavy silence of the room. Lucas doesn''t even spare me a glance.

The hours tick by, with agonizing slowness. The room grows dark as evening falls, but neither of us makes a move to turn on the lights. We sit in the shadows, the only sound the steady beep of Ava''s heart monitor and the occasional rustle of fabric as one of us shifts in our seat.

Every so often, a nurse comes in to check Ava''s vitals. They work quickly and efficiently, charting numbers on the tablets they carry before slipping out again. Each time, I hold my breath, hoping for some sign of improvement. But nothing changes.

It''s late when Vanessa finally makes an appearance. She looks tired, her usually neat bun coming loose and dark circles under her eyes. She goes straight to Lucas, laying a hand on his shoulder.

"No change," she says, shaking her head. "Blood work all normal still."