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 (0)

the track. The itching across my skin intensifies with each stride, a maddening sensation that refuses to relent. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the Findɴovel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to

has never experienced a shift, the concept

as wolves, I’ve been desperate to feel that

haven’t felt a hint of it

my back as I round the bend, my breath coming in ragged gasps. Lisa falls into step beside me, her face flushed with

short

15:22

Ava: Training

like my body is yearning for

some, and a hair trigger on anger for the others. They’re a little more volatile, a little more inclined to drink, a

feel like bathing in the silver moonlight of a full,

is just bizarre. That’s the problem. Where the fuck is normal, and how do I go back?

Jericho’s voice booms across the track once more. “Faster! You

my frustration into each pounding step. The relentless itching beneath

do, barely making it the full five miles. She’s so sore that I spend an

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Ava: Training (1)

know; I lived

late are

fiercely worries me, even as excitement thrums

finish my fifth mile, Jericho’s right there in front of me, like a fucking unwanted ghost in my face.

His voice cracks like a whip, making me flinch. “Lisa, squats.”

Lisa protests, her face flushed from exertion.

isn’t fair. Get over it. This

at the dismissive way he treats my friend. I set my hands on my hips, ready to argue, but think better of it. Jericho isn’t the

I begin my lunges, feeling the burn in my thighs almost immediately. Each step is

Training (1)

my body down. Hold it. Back up with another

burn.

Breathe out.

to keep my mind from wandering unpleasantly during

his critical eye assessing my form.