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 doing?

Ava Training

startled glance 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 maddening sensation that refuses to relent. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the Findɴovel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early

moon. The 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. Yet, an inexplicable sense of anticipation builds

almost as fast as wolves,

of

beside me, her face flushed with exertion. “What do you think he means

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

15:22

Training

my body is

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

I feel like bathing in the

That’s the problem. Where the fuck

once more. “Faster!

my teeth, channeling my frustration into each pounding step. The relentless itching beneath my skin keeps me

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

15:22

Training (1)

I would know; I lived

changes of late are not what

I yearn for the moon so fiercely worries me, even as excitement thrums through my

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

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

Lisa protests, her face flushed from exertion.

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

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

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

Training (1)

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

burn.

in, Breathe

to lose myself in this than it was to keep my mind from wandering

his critical eye assessing my form. “Lower. Keep your knee above your ankle.”