Tangled

104 Ava: Training (I)

The best way to deal with all the confusion involving feelings?

Exercise.

Jericho watches in approval as I push myself past my limits, determined to grow stronger. New bruises appear and disappear each day as my supernatural healing kicks in. Lisa, on the other hand, is covered with them, in various stages of healing.

I’m determined to ignore everything about Lucas and Clayton for as long as I can. It’s easier to just… not deal with it all.

Healthy? Probably not.

But hell, I’m just going to settle for making it through each day for now.

An odd, itchy feeling doesn’t stop all day. Lisa smacks at my hands every time I begin scratching at my neck and shoulders. My belly looks as if it’s been clawed by a raccoon, though the marks fade within half an hour each time.

IN Ave Taning (0)

“You have to stop that, Ave. You’re driving yourself insane. The more you scratch, the more you’ll itch. Just take some Benadryl.”

“Fast healing means a fast metabolism. Benadryl won’t even touch it, and I don’t know wolf dosing. I’d have to go to a healer to figure it out.” I’ve explained this to Lisa before, but her exasperation over my scratching overcomes minor details like that.

It doesn’t bother me. I repeat myself as often as I need to. I just worry that other wolves in the pack might

bother her.

So far, Lisa hasn’t gone anywhere without me. Between the guards always nearby and Kellan’s presence every morning before training and every afternoon after, we haven’t done anything outside of our apartment. Even our food gets delivered.

Lisa’s company is amazing, but we’re both going a little stir–crazy.

That might be what’s wrong with me.

“Full moon’s coming up,” Jericho announces out of nowhere, and I almost jump ten feet in the air.

you doing? Dun!”

Ava Training

the pace. My muscles scream in protest as I push myself to sprint faster around the track. The itching across my skin intensifies

As a shifter who has never experienced a shift, the concept of the full moon’s

in the forest, running almost as fast as wolves, I’ve been desperate to feel that inner power

a hint of it since

step beside me, her face flushed with exertion. “What do you

coherent response. My breath is too short and my brain too

15:22

Training (1)

is

is nothing more than an enhancement. An aphrodisiac for some, and a hair trigger on anger for the others. They’re a little more volatile, a little more inclined to drink, a little late to sleep. But otherwise, it doesn’t really

I feel like bathing in the silver moonlight

bizarre. That’s the problem. Where the fuck is normal, and

voice booms across the track once more. “Faster! You think you can outrun your enemies

relentless itching beneath my skin keeps me from hitting a decent stride.

that I spend an hour every night massaging her from head to toe.

15:22

Training

lived in one

of late are not what I expected.

moon so fiercely worries me, even as excitement thrums through my

fifth mile, Jericho’s right there in front of me,

voice cracks like

face flushed from exertion. She still

turns his steely gaze on her. “Life isn’t fair. Get

my hands on my hips, ready to argue, but think better of it. Jericho isn’t

the burn in my thighs almost immediately. Each step is a challenge, my muscles screaming in protest. I

Ava: Training

Back up with another wide stride. Dip down. Hold it. Burn,

burn.

Breathe

myself in this than it was to keep my mind from wandering unpleasantly during my run.

form. “Lower. Keep