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.”

nods, blossoming beneath her praise. Jericho snorts, but by some miracle manages to keep himself from

taking a deep breath to center myself. Amara nods at

13:42

28

Ava: New Shifters.

from Jericho’s training kicking in. The block is solid, my stance steady. Amara’s eyebrows raise

clearly been practicing. Next time, commit to the

in continued silence. Maybe I’m not as far behind as I feared? Maybe I can hold my own

like that for 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 multiple times, and despite her initial reticence,

new skills to the test. Lisa is a quick learner, her determination making up for any shortcomings. She gets me down more often than

3/8

Ava:

something else. Like my enhanced healing, and how I woke up from

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

usually dead after a long day of training, bounces with more energy than usual.

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

away, focusing on Lisa instead as she chatters excitedly about everything we’ve learned. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and I

***

was a

to Amara’s tutelage, and over

wa’ra brutalizad and hanton to

Ava: New Shifters

smiling anymore, and I no longer feel

ever looked at me with

would be certain she’s trying to bully me out of Westwood.

nothing, technically, to complain about.

just something, a subtle energy among the shifters, in

Selene opines,

your trashy TV show

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

my head back to the situation at

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

Now

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think of me as their alpha’s mate. Their future

about what they think. They are all beneath you. Selene’s natural arrogance is probably because of her Lycan soul; I don’t know how

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

Still.

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