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

if I trust

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 around me in danger. I need to protect myself. I need to get Lisa back. It's something

12 12

Weight

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

lowered lashes.

Thoughtful. Concerned. Calm.

Ever the rational alpha."

man, I tell Selene in

quiet for a moment.

an

he's a good man, Ava. She doesn't sound like she's choking over the

he says, his fingers tensing for a moment over my hand. "I need you to promise me

"Yes?"

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

"But that's-"

can look into this a little more. To keep

going to do everything

sit here while you look into

to take on if I

We are all in this with you. But I

not asking for permission,

His eyes close as he takes

first started talking, and yet he is still trying to see your side. Do not be afraid to

and rub her ears.

fight anywhere, but if clothes come off, I ask that you do it in

bedroom

with her saliva, she saunters back to

glances between us. "What's going

a talk show on now-to her second favorite, which is running yet another one of

the effects

to him. I should have blabbed my entire

A Weight off

the

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

that."

he's reciting lines from a book, but

He's trying.

Like I am.

you think

question 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

His hands. cover mine, stopping the

at me."

I don't.

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

you."