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 crack in

demeanor.

sort of prophet?” I ask, unable to

hands freeze mid–motion, her fingers tangled in my hair. She meets my gaze in the mirror, her eyes narrowing. “I told you, it’s none of your concern,” she snaps, her voice laced with irritation. “Don’t ask

me refuses to back down. “But she was saying such odd things.”

what was said here.

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

lock with more force than necessary. “Enough, Ava. You’re not to speak of this again, do you understand?”

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Sister Miriam

heard countless

nod, so I choke out a soft, “Yes,” hoping

***

with a 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 family.

down any food, wondering if at any moment

in my head like a haunting melody. How did she know about the power I can’t access? And are her words a

spot?

opening interrupts my circular thoughts and I whirl around to see Phoenix entering the room. His expression is grim, his brow furrowed with concern. He tosses a burner phone onto my bed, the device bouncing

caution. “What’s

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Sister Miriam (II)

ask, heart pounding.

“Mom and Dad are freaking out

in my

twists, and I want to vomit all the food I’ve eaten from past to future.

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

Alpha Renard, they never expected that you would truly be able to bear him any kids, considering that he hasn’t had any luck in so long. Even with you

Renard is barren.”

do you mean? How

some unseen burden. “Dad and Mom

kids weren’t

“How is that

weight rolling his shoulders

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Ava: Sister Miriam (II)

head, to my desk, then to the floor

best friend. She helped cover it up. She told Dad

implications of his words sink in a little at a time. Alpha Renard, the powerful and feared leader of our 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,

skirmishes with other shifters.

almost too much to

they weren’t alpha heirs at

were weak. Did she mate a

my voice trembling with a mixture of disbelief and fear.

It’s always about power in a pack. She didn’t want to lose her position as Luna,

the edge of my bed, my mind reeling. How many other secrets

our pack?

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