Tangled

70 Ava: Sister Miriam (II)

Trepidation and anxiety flow in equal measure through my veins as my mother leans forward, tired of waiting for a clear answer. “Can you sense if Ava is pregnant, Sister Miriam?” o

The woman’s eyes glaze, her gaze becoming distant as if peering into another realm. Her voice deepens, taking on a strong cadence that seems to vibrate the very air around us. “An ancient power lies dormant, awaiting the weakest to awaken it. Her womb shall house the strongest, who will inherit the legacy of the

Lycans.”

And just like that, she’s back, the energy dispersed in mere seconds. She blinks at me, then toward my

mother. “It is uncertain,” she answers, still with her eerie smile. “I shall come again before the ceremony. Alpha Renard has chosen well.”

“Ah, yes…” My mom’s pathetic agreement only cements her disdain toward me. “Thank you for coming, Sister

Miriam.”

“What are friends for, Grace?”

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70 Avs Ster Miriam (1)

Sister Miriam’s gaze meets mine once again. There’s a glint in her eyes that makes me nervous. “If you ever need me, child,” she says, her voice low and almost melodic, “simply light a candle and call my name. I’ll

find you.”

I watch Sister Miriam leave, her words lingering in the air like an ominous mist. As the door closes behind her,

my mother lets out a shudder, her face twisted. She

reaches for a small travel bottle of hand sanitizer on Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ FindNøvᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

the dresser and rubs the gel over her palms, making sure no amount of skin is untouched, as if trying to scrub away an invisible stain.

“Who is she?” I ask, unable to contain my curiosity despite the strange encounter.

My mother’s eyes narrow as she turns to face me. “Stop being so nosy, Ava,” she snaps, her voice laced with irritation. “That’s none of your concern.”

She looks over my body in disgust. “It’s unfortunate that we still don’t know if you’re pregnant, but I guess there’s little we can do except wait.”

I watch my mother closely as she continues fussing with my hair, her movements stiff and agitated. The

C

70 Ava: Sister Miriam (II)

left her visibly unsettled, a rare

demeanor.

some sort of prophet?” I ask,

narrowing. “I told you, it’s none of your concern,” she snaps, her voice laced with irritation. “Don’t ask

down. “But she was saying such odd things.” I just want

was said

Phoenix more than she’s thinking of her own status in the pack. If Alpha Renard hears

more force than necessary. “Enough, Ava. You’re not to speak

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Sister Miriam (1)

I’ve heard countless times

I choke out a soft, “Yes,” hoping I look properly

***

in the cramped space of my

wondering if at any moment they’d start talking

about the power I can’t access? And are her words a vision of the future, or just some cryptic

spot?

His expression is grim, his brow furrowed with concern. He tosses a burner phone onto my bed, the device

with caution. “What’s

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Ava Sister Miriam (II)

ask, heart pounding.

a hand through his tousled hair. “Mom and Dad are freaking out about what

bells in

all the food I’ve eaten from past to future. “Are they

they won’t,” he assures me, but his

be able to bear him any kids, considering that he hasn’t had any luck

Renard is barren.”

me frowning. “What do you mean? How

of some

weren’t biologically

“How is

weight rolling his

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Ava: Sister Miriam

to the floor off

helped cover it up. She told

pack, has been deceived all this time, his wife bearing children that were not truly

with

too much to

they weren’t alpha heirs at all.

were weak. Did she

they do that?” I ask, my voice trembling with a mixture of disbelief and fear.

power in a pack. She didn’t want to lose her position as Luna, even if it

sink onto the edge of my bed, my mind reeling. How many other secrets are buried beneath the surface

our pack?

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