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.”

her praise. Jericho snorts, but by some miracle

breath to center myself. Amara nods at me

13:42

28

New

solid, my stance steady. Amara’s eyebrows raise

commit to the movement. You’re hesitant, and hesitation will get you

Pride 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 hold my own here after

a while, Amara showing us new moves and critiquing our form. It’s challenging, sweat dripping down my back as I push myself harder, striving to perfect each technique. I have to repeat. them

any shortcomings. She gets me down more often than not, but I can tell a difference in our strength. Jericho has said nothing about it–but I can feel

3/8

Ava: 123 Ava:

and how I woke up from a three–week long coma no longer needing

for a break, my muscles are burning and my

usually dead after a

I find several of the male shifters watching me with interest. It makes me want to squirm, their

away, focusing on Lisa instead as she chatters excitedly about everything we’ve learned. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and I find myself smiling, the unease from

***

first day was a fucking bait and

Amara’s tutelage, and over the

and

New Shifters

anymore, and I no

ever looked at me with more

me out of Westwood. Instead, she’s

to

the shifters, in their

jealous, Selene

watching your trashy TV show again?

can sense her tail swishing despite our distance. It is very entertaining. Humans know how to tell a

head back to

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

Now

website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of

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

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

they can

Still.

knowing how your pack feels on any given day could save you from a beating–if