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)

has left her visibly unsettled,

demeanor.

of prophet?” I ask, unable

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 about

sharp tone, but a part of me refuses to back down. “But she was saying such odd

what was

If Alpha Renard hears something like that,

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

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Ava: Sister Miriam

I’ve heard countless times before.

nod, so I choke out a soft, “Yes,”

***

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

food, wondering if at any moment they’d start talking about Sister Miriam’s words.

power I can’t access? And are her words a vision of the future,

spot?

thoughts and I whirl around to see Phoenix entering the room. His expression is grim, his brow furrowed

caution. “What’s

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Sister Miriam

ask, heart pounding.

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

in my head.

to vomit all the food I’ve eaten from past to future.

he assures me, but his tone is laced with uncertainty. “Look, Ava,

bear him any kids, considering that he hasn’t had any

Renard is barren.”

frowning. “What do you mean? How

of some unseen

weren’t biologically

can’t be true. “How is that possible?”

his weight rolling

12:40

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Ava: Sister

my head, to my desk, then to the floor off to the side

helped cover it up. She told

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 of them dying during what would

skirmishes with

almost too much to

died because they weren’t alpha heirs

Did she mate a

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

expression hardens. “Power, Ava. It’s always about power in a pack. She didn’t want to

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

our pack?

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