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.

That’re you

Training (0)

before picking up the pace. My muscles scream in protest as I push myself to sprint faster around the track. The itching across my skin intensifies with each stride, a

words echo in my mind, taunting me with their significance. As a shifter who has never experienced a shift, the concept of the full moon’s power remains foreign to me.

forest, running almost as fast as wolves, I’ve been desperate

haven’t felt a hint of

watchful gaze burns into my back as I round the bend, my breath coming in ragged gasps. Lisa falls into step beside me, her face flushed with exertion. “What do you think he means by that?” she pants, her words punctuated

too short and my brain too confused by how I feel about a full moon.

15:22

Ava: Training (1)

like my body is

Even in full–fledged wolf shifters, the moon 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,

bathing in the silver moonlight of

just bizarre. That’s the problem. Where the

complete another lap, Jericho’s voice booms across the track once more. “Faster! You think you

relentless itching beneath my skin keeps me from hitting a decent stride. I’m too

so sore that I spend an hour every

15:22

Training

lived in one all

of late are

so fiercely worries me, even as

in front of me, like a fucking unwanted ghost

cracks like a whip, making me

I do lunges too?” Lisa protests, her face

gaze on her. “Life isn’t fair. Get over it.

dismissive way he treats my friend. I set my hands on my hips, ready to argue, but think better

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

Ava: Training (1)

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

burn.

Breathe

this than it was to

his critical eye assessing my form. “Lower.