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? Dun!”

Ava Training

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

shift, the concept of the full moon’s power remains foreign to me. Yet, an

the forest, running almost as fast as wolves, I’ve

hint of it since that day.

coming in ragged gasps. Lisa falls into step beside me, her

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

15:22

Training (1)

is yearning for it.

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

I feel like bathing in the silver moonlight of a full, round

lately is just bizarre. That’s the problem. Where the fuck

booms across the track once more. “Faster! You think

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

sore that I spend an hour every night massaging her

15:22

Training

know; I lived in

of late are not

for the moon so fiercely worries me, even as excitement thrums through my veins.

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

entire track.” His voice cracks like

her face flushed from exertion.

“Life isn’t fair. Get over it. This is a performance–based

chest at the dismissive way he treats my friend. I set my hands on my hips, ready

immediately. Each step is a challenge, my

Ava: Training (1)

out. Dip my body down. Hold it. Back up with another wide stride. Dip

burn.

in, Breathe

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

strides over, his critical eye assessing my form. “Lower. Keep