Tangled

153

153

153 Ava: A Weight off Her Shoulders

This isn't so bad, right?1 ask Selene, buoyed by the gentle smile on Lucas' face,

At first I thought it was a facade to hide his anger, but he doesn't

once lash out.

Doesn't berate me.

Doesn't yell.

Just nods. Smiles. Listens.

And accepts it all.

Right, Selene says, but she sounds evasive.

So when Lucas hands me a glass of water and nudges me to sit at the table across from him, I do without hesitation.

"Okay," he finally says, leaning over the table to stare into my eyes. "Lay it on me."

He sounds a little like he's bracing himself. I can't blame him. I am,

too.

I take a deep breath. "I'm not a normal shifter."

He nods slowly. "We've established this."

I inhale sharply, searching for the right words. How do I explain something I barely understand myself? The power within me is like the wind; it exists, and occasionally makes itself known, but I can't search for it "I have some kind of magical aptitude," I finally say, meeting Lucas'

153 Ava; A Weight off Her Shoulders

gaze. "But I need training to control it. Without proper guidance, it could be dangerous."

Lucas stares at me, his brow furrowed. The silence stretches

between us, heavy with unspoken questions.

"What do you mean by magical aptitude, Ava?" His voice is steady, but I can sense the underlying concern.

The weight of my own ignorance is crushing, and I can only shrug. "I'm not entirely sure, to be honest. All I know is that there's a power inside me, and it's not like anything I've ever known. You saw it, too. The r His eyes narrow as he thinks back. "Your running. We assumed it was some sort of side effect from your dormant wolf."

Motioning toward Selene, I say, "She wasn't dormant. Our bond is different."

I take a deep breath, cautiously optimistic by his measured. responses. "I don't know enough about this, but Sister Miriam knows. She's going to connect me with a teacher so I can learn to control it." Lucas leans back in his chair, his eyes never leaving mine. "And trust this Sister Miriam?"

you

I trust

what's happening to me than anyone else." Light reflects off the water in my glass, and I lower my eyes, turning the cup in circles. "I need to know more about this

12 12

Weight

mine. The warmth of his touch is comforting, and I peek at his face

lowered lashes.

Thoughtful. Concerned. Calm.

Ever the rational alpha."

I

moment. You don't smell

What an

a good man, Ava. She doesn't sound like she's choking over the words anymore, but there's something there

a moment over

"Yes?"

looking torn. "I need you to stay away from Sister

"But that's-"

he amends hastily. "For now. Just until Kellan and I can look into this a little more. To keep you safe."

we're going to do everything

don't have time to sit here while

it's a risk I'm willing to take on if I can get even one step closer to bringing

in this with you. But I can't just

asking for

I know. His eyes close as he takes a deep breath, and Selene pipes up in my

still trying to see your side. Do not be afraid

and rub her ears.

the couch. You two can have this fight anywhere, but if clothes come off, I ask

bedroom

in my lap, wet with her saliva, she saunters back to the living room, having made her position

us. "What's going

favorite, which is running yet another one of her

that I realize the effects

to him. I should have blabbed my entire thought

Weight off Her

the

distracting me from that line of thought. "I appreciate you opening up

that."

he's reciting lines from a book, but Selene's

He's trying.

Like I am.

you think I'm

comes out unbidden, and I can't stare at his face while waiting for his answer. Instead, I pick at the buttons on the remote Selene left with

course not. Ava, why would you think that?" His hands. cover mine, stopping the fidgeting. "Sweetheart, you

at me."

I don't.

a freak. Wolf or no wolf, I want you by my side. I never should have pushed you away. I've regretted it for so long. When I looked int "I was already running away,"

you."