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

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

with their significance. As a shifter who has never experienced a shift, the concept

running almost as fast as

haven’t felt a hint of it since that day.

Lisa falls into step beside me, her face flushed with exertion. “What do you think he means by that?” she pants, her words

coherent response. My breath is too short and my brain too confused by how I feel about a full

15:22

Training (1)

like my body is yearning for it.

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, it

in the silver

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

complete another lap, Jericho’s voice booms across the track once more. “Faster! You think you can outrun your enemies at this

each pounding step. The relentless itching beneath my skin keeps me from hitting a decent

the full five miles. She’s so sore that

15:22

Training (1)

I would know; I lived in one

are not

for the moon so fiercely worries me, even as

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

The entire track.” His voice cracks like a whip,

protests, her face flushed from

“Life isn’t fair. Get over

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

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

Training (1)

it. Back up with

burn.

in, Breathe out.

it was to keep my mind from wandering unpleasantly during my run.

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