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 (0)

track. The itching across my skin intensifies

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 within

fast as wolves, I’ve been

haven’t felt a hint of it since that

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

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

15:22

Training (1)

like my body is yearning for it.

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

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

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

Jericho’s voice booms across the track once more. “Faster! You

into each pounding step. The relentless itching beneath my

that I spend an hour every night massaging her from head to

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Ava: Training (1)

would know; I lived in one all my

changes of late are not

yearn for the moon so fiercely worries me, even

I finish my fifth mile, Jericho’s right there in front

Ava. The entire track.” His voice cracks like

do lunges too?” Lisa protests, her face flushed from exertion. She still

fair. Get over it. This

flares in my chest at the dismissive way he treats my friend. I set my hands on my hips, ready to argue, but think better

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

Training (1)

Dip my body down. Hold it. Back up with

burn.

Breathe

to keep my mind from wandering unpleasantly during

my form. “Lower. Keep your knee above your