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.”

praise. Jericho snorts, but by some miracle manages to keep himself from saying

breath to center myself. Amara nods at me to

13:42

28

Ava: New

in. The block is solid, my

she says. “You’ve clearly been practicing. Next time, commit to the movement. You’re

Maybe I’m not as far behind as I feared? Maybe I

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

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 can tell a

3/8

123 Ava: New Shifters

else. Like my enhanced healing, and how I woke up from a three–week long coma no longer needing glasses

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

definite progress, and it’s exciting. Even Lisa, who’s usually dead after a long day of training, bounces with more energy

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

she chatters excitedly about everything we’ve learned. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and I find

***

day was a fucking bait

leaves ús to Amara’s tutelage, and

and hanton to

New Shifters

anymore, and I no longer feel

Amara ever looked at me with more

Westwood. Instead, she’s meticulous in explaining what she’s teaching me and what I’m doing wrong.

nothing, technically, to complain about.

subtle energy among the shifters, in their eyes and the

are jealous, Selene opines, sounding distracted.

watching your trashy TV show again?

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

and I drag my head back

opponent this morning. He’s one of the many who watch me from

Av Now Shifters

website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters

knowing they think of me as

of her Lycan soul; I don’t know how she cares so little about how other people think

our pack, she says, without me asking. How they think of you is inconsequential. If they have something to say, they can do it through a challenge. None of those pups is arrogant enough to challenge one who might become their future

Still.

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