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

breath to

13:42

28

Ava: New

training kicking in. The block is solid, my stance steady. Amara’s eyebrows raise slightly, a hint

commit to

toward Jericho, who watches me in continued silence. Maybe I’m

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 multiple times, and despite her

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 difference in our strength. Jericho has

3/8

Ava: New

how I woke up

are burning and my lungs heaving. But beneath the exhaustion

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

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

excitedly about everything we’ve learned. Her enthusiasm is

***

was a fucking bait and switch.

leaves ús to Amara’s tutelage,

brutalizad and hanton to the mat

New Shifters

anymore, and I no

me with

she’s trying to bully me out of Westwood. Instead,

to complain about.

energy among the shifters, in their eyes and the way

jealous, Selene

you watching your trashy

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

shouts, and I drag my head back to

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

Av Now

thᴇ FindNʘᴠᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and

think of me as

natural arrogance is probably because of her Lycan soul; I

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

Still.

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