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

don't know if I trust

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

12 12

A Weight off Her

reaches across the table, his hand covering mine. The warmth of his touch

lowered lashes.

Thoughtful. Concerned. Calm.

Ever the rational alpha."

good man, I tell

moment. You don't smell

What an

sound like she's choking over the words anymore, but there's something there that

fingers tensing for a moment over my hand. "I need you to promise

"Yes?"

need you to stay

"But that's-"

this a little more. To keep you safe." Drawing my brows together,

to do everything in our power to get

sit here while you

to take on if I

all in this with you. But I can't

not asking for

eyes close as he takes a deep breath, and Selene pipes up in my

see 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.

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

bedroom

the remote in my lap, wet with her saliva, she

us. "What's going

now-to her second favorite, which is running yet

I realize the effects of the food have

to him. I should have blabbed my entire thought

Weight off

the effects

distracting me from

that."

he's reciting lines from a

He's trying.

Like I am.

do you think I'm

at his face while waiting for his answer. Instead, I pick at the buttons on the

think that?" His hands. cover mine, stopping the fidgeting. "Sweetheart, you need to

at me."

I don't.

I never

you."