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 manages to keep himself from saying anything terrible.

breath to center myself. Amara nods at me to begin.

13:42

28

Ava: New

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

commit to the movement. You’re hesitant,

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

push myself harder, striving to perfect each technique. I have to repeat. them

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 said nothing about

3/8

Ava:

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

calls for a break, my muscles are burning and my lungs heaving. But beneath the exhaustion is a sense of accomplishment.

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

spine. Glancing up, I find several of the male shifters watching me with interest. It

instead as she chatters excitedly about everything we’ve learned. Her enthusiasm is

***

first day was a fucking bait

to Amara’s tutelage, and over

brutalizad and hanton to

New

and I no longer feel pride over

looked at me with more

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

nothing, technically, to complain about.

energy among the shifters, in their eyes and the

Selene

your trashy TV show

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

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 watch

Now

Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of

me

is probably because of her

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

Still.

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