Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 167 Ava: Mom's Stronger?

"Mom?" I ask in disbelief.

It can't be. How can Mom be stronger than the pack beta?

In another pack, your mother would have been a strong Luna candidate.

Wow.

I'd always known Mom had a strong presence, but I would have never guessed—never, in a million years, ever—that her wolf is stronger than Dad's.

I wonder how that worked out. Did Mom force her wolf to submit?

It is likely that the alpha did.

"Alpha Renard?"

Correct. An alpha's bond can force submission in any wolf, and change dynamics as he wishes.

I'd heard about things like that, of course. I knew we all had to submit, and I knew he had the power to force submission—but I don't think I've ever heard of him forcing wolves to submit to other wolves.

It happens.

"Wow." Despite my visit with Mom yesterday, I feel a little sorry for her.

A woman like her? With a strong wolf? She must have felt so stifled in this pack.

Your mother is strong in wolf, but weak in human, she explains. Not all souls are well matched.

"You said she would be a strong Luna candidate. Why can't strong female wolves be alphas?"

They can be. They used to be. Selene sounds frustrated. But today's wolves don't recognize it. An alpha today would have been King in my era.

My mind jiggles. A Lycan King.

Wait a second.

"Sister Miriam called you—"

Queen, in my

hanging open. "Wait, you were

Selene says primly, sitting straight with her head

I figured it was because you're so..." Trailing off before I can finish the sentence, I try to think of a way to end it without offending

my soul. In her dog form, it's adorable. But

"Um. You know. Finicky?"

curls her lip over her teeth in a silent snarl. I am

That's what I meant." I try to keep a straight face, but

bare her teeth, but glances

silent apology before returning to the

a strong

That's crazy talk.

idea forms

clothes and tucking them inside, trying to focus

me, Selene

thought we're trying to keep you a secret." The more people who know about Selene, the more I feel

of us who are different, and I have no

to be shared. It's shackling us. We have no freedom outside

don't know, Selene. What if it ruins our friendship?

would be terrible. One of my few allies in Westwood; someone who doesn't look at me with weighted stares and judgment

and accept you, Ava. Just like Lisa

at the suitcase without really seeing them, I pick it all apart in my head. Tell her. Don't

always so

that's a weakness

for my past. And Lucas... was angry at first, but he's been nothing but

Ava. She deserves to know the truth, and we

decision made. "Okay. We'll tell

being that she

This should help.

purposeful when I resume packing as my idea roots into my

sounds startled. Vanessa isn't