Tangled

S~ᴇaʀᴄh the Find ɴøᴠel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

97 Ava: Life in Westwood (II)

“Ava, Lisa, this is Jericho. He’s one of our most

experienced enforcers and will be overseeing your training.”

Kellan’s introduction hangs in the air as I take in the man before me. Jericho’s weathered face is a tapestry of scars, each one a story etched into his skin. His

eyes, a piercing blue, seem to see right through me, assessing and calculating in equal measure, his scarred lip curling in disdain.

I force myself to stand tall, to meet his stare head–on.

“These are the whelps I’m meant to train? They look like they’d snap in a stiff breeze.”

Kellan’s jaw tightens. “Jericho, mind your tongue. Ava and Lisa are under the Alpha’s protection. You will treat them with respect.”

Jericho snorts, a harsh sound in the tense air between

1. us.

The shifter’s lip curls, exposing yellowed teeth.

“Respect is earned, not given. They live or die by their

12.31 O

<97 Ava: Life in Westwood (II)

own strength, not mine. If they can’t handle it, that’s

not my problem.”

again, his patience clearly fraying. “You just need to train them.

Soft. Weak.” He spits

menace. “Let me make this clear,” he says, his voice low and dangerous. “Ava and Lisa’s wellbeing is

importance to Alpha Lucas. If anything happens to them under your watch,

with disdain. But then he shrugs, a casual roll of his shoulders that does nothing to dispel the tension crackling in the air. “Fine. But the Alpha should have better priorities. A real

13:31

Ava: Life in

cuts him off with a sharp gesture. “Enough. Leave the girls to

warning look, Kellan turns on his heel and stalks away, leaving Lisa and I alone with our new mentor. Jericho eyes us appraisingly, his gaze lingering on my

something like approval in his tone. “Good. Means you might just survive

squeezing. I glance at her, seeing my own. apprehension reflected in her eyes. Whatever training Jericho has in store for us, it’s not going

then, nothing about my life has been pleasant lately. I squeeze Lisa’s hand back, drawing

tell him, my voice steady

slowly, his gaze raking over every inch of

Avs Life in Westwood (1)

he’s looking for weak spots to exploit. I feel

crawl.

it myself, but orders are orders.”

to be cowed. “I’ve done what I had to do to survive,” I say, my voice steady despite the fear thrumming through my veins. “I’m not afraid to

just about throwing fists, girl. It’s about instinct, about being willing to do whatever it takes to

But she meets his stare head–on, her voice only wavering slightly as she says, “I may not be a fighter, but I’m not

in Westwood

cruel smirk. “Pretty words, but they don’t mean shit out there. In the real world, it’s kill or be killed. And right now, I wouldn’t bet on either of you

the realities of this new world I’ve found myself in. But I refuse to let him see my fear, to let

ringing with a conviction I don’t quite feel. “Show us how to survive.

a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he nods, a single, sharp jerk of his chin. “Alright then, girl. Let’s see what you’re made of.” He takes a step back, his posture shifting into a loose, ready stance. “Come at

won’t.”

looks at Jericho with her face scrunched up, her confusion clear. “You mean, just… attack you? Right now? Just like that?”

10.31

5/7

Ava: Life in Westwood

In the real world, your enemies won’t wait for you to be ready. They’ll