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—"

was Queen, in my

open. "Wait, you were a queen? Like, an actual

says primly, sitting straight

was because you're so..." Trailing off before I can finish

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

"Um. You know. Finicky?"

teeth in a silent snarl. I

try to keep a straight face, but a giggle escapes my

to bare her

for the reprieve, I scratch at her neck in silent apology before

has a strong

That's crazy talk.

forms

folding clothes and tucking them inside,

about me, Selene

a secret." The more people who know

don't take kindly to those of us who are different, and I have no interest in spreading

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

really paying attention to how I do so. "I don't know, Selene. What if it ruins our friendship? Vanessa might feel betrayed that I kept this

so warm and kind. Losing her would be terrible. One of my few allies in Westwood; someone who

like Lisa does. Just

Don't

always so

that's a

me for being a shifter or for my past. And Lucas... was angry at

Vanessa cares about you, Ava. She deserves to

nod slowly, my decision made. "Okay.

afraid to buck Lucas' rules if she agrees with me. The caveat being that

This should help.

I resume packing as my idea roots into my brain

sounds startled. Vanessa isn't