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

know if I trust her completely,

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 power. It's putt people

12 12

A Weight off

the table, his hand covering mine. The warmth of his touch is comforting, and

lowered lashes.

Thoughtful. Concerned. Calm.

Ever the rational alpha."

good man, I tell Selene in

quiet for a moment. You don't

an

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

his fingers tensing for a moment over my

"Yes?"

you to stay away from

"But that's-"

now," he amends hastily. "For now. Just until Kellan and I can look into this a little more. To keep you safe." Drawing my brows together, I pull my hand from his. "Lucas, I know you understand that

And we're going to do everything in

don't have time to sit here while you look into things. I know

to take on if I can get even one

"You're not alone, Ava. We are all in this with you. But I can't just

not asking for

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

your side. Do not be afraid to speak your mind, Ava. Only communication will get you out of these muddy v Selene's

and rub her ears.

couch. You two can have this fight anywhere, but if

bedroom

she saunters back to

glances between us. "What's

the channel-there's a talk show on now-to her second favorite, which is running yet another

that I realize the effects of the food have worn

have been able to say that to him. I

Weight off

did the

I don't want you to feel as though you can't talk to me," he says hesitantly, distracting me from that line of thought. "I appreciate you opening up to me, and I want

that."

he's reciting lines from a book, but Selene's words echo through

He's trying.

Like I am.

do you think I'm a

at his face while waiting for his answer.

think that?" His

at me."

I don't.

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," I mutter. "It wasn't

you."