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?”

12:49 O

1/8

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)

Sister Miriam has left her visibly unsettled, a rare crack in her usually

demeanor.

ask, unable to contain

mirror, her eyes narrowing. “I told you,

of me refuses to back down. “But she was saying such odd things.” I just want to make sure Mom

was said

the pack. If Alpha Renard hears something like that, it doesn’t matter what plan Phoenix

hair tightens, and I wince as she tugs at a lock with more force than necessary. “Enough, Ava. You’re not to speak of this again, do you understand?” Her voice is low and

12:49

3/8

Sister Miriam (1)

countless times before.

out a soft, “Yes,” hoping I look properly cowed.

***

thousand thoughts and a thousand more worries as I pace back and forth in the cramped space of my bedroom, having skipped dinner with the

at any moment they’d start talking about Sister Miriam’s

melody. How did she know about the power I can’t access? And are her words a vision of the future, or just some cryptic mumbo–jumbo she spewed on the

spot?

around to see Phoenix entering the room. His expression is grim, his brow furrowed with concern. He tosses a

“What’s going on?” I

4/8

Ava Sister Miriam

ask, heart pounding.

hair. “Mom and Dad are freaking out about what Sister Miriam

bells in my head.

want to vomit all the food I’ve eaten from

they won’t,” he assures me, but his tone is laced with

loyal to Alpha Renard, they never expected that you would truly be able to bear him any kids,

Renard is barren.”

you mean? How do you know that?”

shoulders sagging with the weight of some

kids weren’t

be true. “How is

rolling

12:40

5/8

Sister

gaze goes over my head, to my desk, then to

cover it up. She told

pack, has been deceived all this time, his wife bearing children that were not truly his own. They’d been his pride and joy, even if they were weak for alpha–heirs, all

skirmishes with other shifters.

too

died because they weren’t alpha heirs

weak. Did she mate a

why would they do that?” I ask, my voice trembling with a mixture of

It’s always about power in a pack. She didn’t want to lose

of my bed, my mind reeling. How many other secrets are buried beneath the

our pack?

12:49

8/8