Tangled

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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

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<97 Ava: Life in Westwood (II)

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

not my problem.”

protection,” Kellan grits out again, his patience clearly fraying. “You just need to train them. Help them learn to defend themselves.”

edge. “Defend themselves? Look at them, barely more than pups. Soft. Weak.” He spits the words. like

“Let me make this clear,” he

to Alpha Lucas. If anything happens to them under your watch, you’ll answer to

argue, his scarred face twisting 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.

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in

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

and I alone with our new mentor. Jericho eyes us appraisingly, his gaze lingering on my

you’ve seen some action already,” he grunts, something like approval in his tone. “Good. Means you

shifts uneasily beside me, her hand finding mine and squeezing. I glance at her, seeing my own. apprehension reflected in her

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

meet Jericho’s gaze head–on, my chin lifting in silent challenge. “We’re ready,” I tell him, my voice steady despite the fear coiling in my gut. “Teach us

gaze

in

spots to exploit. I

crawl.

say I see it myself, but orders are orders.” He stops in front of

I say, my voice steady despite the fear thrumming through my veins. “I’m not afraid to

whatever it takes to come out on top.” His gaze flicks to Lisa, dismissive. “And you? You look like you’d faint

meets his stare head–on, her voice only wavering slightly as she says, “I

in

shifter’s lips twist into a cruel smirk. “Pretty words, but they don’t mean shit out there. In the real world, it’s kill or be killed. And right

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

don’t quite feel. “Show us how to

then, girl. Let’s see what you’re made of.” He takes a step back, his posture

won’t.”

her confusion clear. “You mean, just… attack you? Right now?

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97 Ava: Life in Westwood

lip twists in a sneer. “You expecting an engraved invitation, girl? In the real world, your enemies won’t wait for you to be ready. They’ll