Tangled

98 Ava: Life in Westwood (III)

After several rounds of Jericho demanding we attack him, only for us to end up on the ground with new bruises every time, I collapse onto the dusty ground, chest heaving, lungs screaming for air. Sweat pours down my face, stinging my eyes. Lisa lies beside me, equally drenched, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

Jericho looms over us, his scarred face impassive.

“Pathetic. You’d be dead the moment a wolf looked at

you wrong.”

I glare up at him, too winded to retort. He jerks his head, motioning for us to rise. “On your feet. Follow

me.”

-Somehow, I stagger upright, my muscles trembling with exhaustion. Lisa groans as she pushes herself up, her face flushed and hair plastered to her forehead.

Jericho leads us to the track, his stride purposeful. “You’re so weak, you’d probably break your necks running through the woods. From now on, five miles around this track every morning.”

I gape at him, but he’s not finished. He rattles off a list

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98 Ava: Life in Westwood (III)

of exercises–push–ups, sit–ups, something called burpees, some lunges that I’m not entirely certain how to do without a visual–that we’ll be doing daily to

build strength. Lisa makes a noise of despair beside

1. me.

Jericho’s piercing gaze finds mine. “Alpha Westwood will be gone at least another month dealing with the Blackwood situation. Don’t expect him to swoop in and

save you.”

Something hot and defiant rises in my chest. I lift my chin, meeting his stare head–on. “I wouldn’t want to be saved anyway.”

For the first time, a hint of a smile tugs at Jericho’s lips. “You’ve got guts, girl. Maybe there’s hope for you yet.”

-Lisa stares at the track, dejection dripping from her pores. “How many times do we have to go around for five miles?”

I shrug, just as clueless. “No idea.”

Jericho scoffs, his lip curling in disdain, I’m starting to think that’s his default look. “Unbelievable. You two are so sheltered you don’t even know how to track

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in Westwood

distance.”

with being locked away in a pack that didn’t see any point in allowing any enrichment in my life.

knowing any excuses will only earn me another scathing

on her hips, glaring at Jericho. “Well, excuse us for not being born with an

her. But then he barks out a laugh, shaking his head. –“Fair enough. Twelve

I

keep count.”

My legs ache just thinking about it. But I straighten my spine, determined not to show weakness. If this is what it takes to become strong enough to protect

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in

my voice steadier than I feel. “Twelve laps

it is.”

something akin to approval flickering in his eyes. “Good. Now get to it. I’ll

lap. The sun beats down on us, the air thick with humidity, but I push through the discomfort. Each step, each breath, is a reminder that I’m alive, that

survived.

Stronger.

want to

to depend on anyone for rescue, ever

again.

even though we’ve

five feet.

as they expand to hold in what little air I manage to gather. “Come on, Lise. We’ve

is inhuman,” she pants, her face flushed.

into a

enough coming in. “Shifters

Life in Westwood (III)

human, anyway.”

labored breathing and the pounding of our feet against the track. I stumble. She stumbles. It’s inelegant and I’m starting to think she’s

already want a water break, and it’s only been a

our feet hit

booms from behind us. “You call that

grandmother could outpace you,

been dead for

together and I push myself harder, gasping at the effort. Jericho catches

effortless.

chest. And land on the balls of your feet, not your

it easier.”

give him does nothing, because he doesn’t even look at me to appreciate it. I adjust my breathing and

starting to

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think he might

me, and Jericho’s head snaps in