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

Training

itching across my skin intensifies with

who has never experienced a shift, the concept of

as wolves, I’ve been desperate to feel that inner power again.

haven’t felt a hint of it since

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

head, unable to form a coherent response. My breath is too short and my brain

15:22

Training

body is yearning for it.

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

the silver moonlight of a full, round

problem. Where the fuck is normal, and how do

booms across the track once more. “Faster!

my teeth, channeling my frustration into each pounding step. The relentless itching beneath my skin keeps me from hitting a decent stride. I’m too distracted.

barely making it the full five miles. She’s so sore that I spend an hour every night massaging her from head to

15:22

Training (1)

lived in one

are not what

so fiercely worries me, even as excitement

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

entire track.” His voice cracks like a

I do lunges too?” Lisa protests, her face flushed from exertion. She still hasn’t

her. “Life isn’t fair. Get over it. This is

my friend. I set my hands on my hips, ready to argue, but think

almost immediately. Each step is a challenge,

Training

leg out. Dip my body down. Hold it. Back up with

burn.

Breathe out.

easier 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