Tangled

123 Ava: New Shifters

Lisa and I share a look before following Amara further into the gym. I can feel the eyes of the other shifters tracking our every move. Unease has my heart beating in rapid rhythm, like a frantic chicken flapping its wings. All the excitement I’d felt at meeting new people is now buried beneath the worries dashing through my mind.

Do they hate me?

Is their disapproval because I’m a Blackwood wolf?

Do they know I can’t shift?

Have there been complaints about me?

What have they been saying?

But, of course, I don’t have the answers, so I follow. behind with my mouth shut.

It will be fine, Selene assures me, but she’s very unconcerned about the thoughts of humans or shifters. In fact, I’m not sure she cares about anyone other than me. She isn’t even fond of our fated mate.

Selene snorts. Fated doesn’t mean inevitable.

13:42

123 Ava: New Shifters:

her

Once we reach the mats, Amara turns to face us, stance relaxed but ready. It’s hard not to focus on the lean muscles defined in her arms. I’d thought I was making improvement with my training, but compared to her? I look like a newborn baby, soft and squishy.

“Let’s start with some basic defensive moves and see

where you’re at.”

Amara launches into an explanation of a simple block and counter, demonstrating the moves with fluid grace. I focus on her words, trying to commit the steps.

to memory.

Then it’s our turn to try. Lisa goes first, her face set in concentration as she attempts to mirror Amara’s movements. It’s a little clumsy, but she executes the block successfully.

“Good,” Amara praises. “Remember to keep your weight centered and your arm firm.”

snorts, but by some miracle manages to keep himself from saying anything terrible.

up next, taking a deep breath to center myself. Amara nods at me to

13:42

28

Ava: New Shifters.

block is solid, my stance steady. Amara’s eyebrows raise slightly, a hint of surprise flickering across her

time, commit to the movement. You’re hesitant,

surges through me as I glance toward Jericho, who watches me in continued silence. Maybe I’m not as far behind as I feared? Maybe I can

my back as I push myself harder, striving to perfect each technique. I have to repeat. them multiple times, and despite her

and I take turns facing off against each other, putting our new skills to the test. Lisa is a quick learner, her determination making up for any shortcomings. She gets me down more often than not, but I

3/8

Ava:

Like my enhanced healing, and how I woke

muscles are burning and my lungs heaving. But beneath the exhaustion is a sense of

and it’s exciting. Even Lisa, who’s usually dead after a long day of training,

of awareness runs along my spine. Glancing up, I find several of the male shifters watching me with

we’ve learned. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and I find myself smiling,

***

was a

leaves ús to Amara’s tutelage, and

brutalizad and hanton to the mat

Ava: New

smiling anymore, and I no longer feel pride over my

Amara ever looked at me

bully me out of Westwood. Instead, she’s meticulous in explaining what she’s teaching

technically, to complain about.

the shifters, in their eyes and the way they speak.

Selene

you watching your trashy TV show again?

despite our distance. It is very entertaining. Humans know how to tell a story, even if their

Amara shouts, and I drag my head

other shifters, a younger male with a cocky swagger, is my opponent this morning. He’s one of the many who

Now Shifters

Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the

sense, knowing they think of me as their alpha’s mate. Their future

is probably because of her Lycan soul; I don’t know how she cares so

you is inconsequential. If they have something to say, they can do it through a challenge. None of

Still.

of a lifetime of conditioning, where knowing how your pack feels on any given day could save you from