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 her completely,

my eyes, turning the cup in circles. "I need to know more about this power. It's

12 12

Ava, A Weight off Her

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

lowered lashes.

Thoughtful. Concerned. Calm.

Ever the rational alpha."

good man, I tell Selene in

for a moment. You don't

an odd

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

says, his fingers tensing for a moment over my hand.

"Yes?"

need you

"But that's-"

more. To keep you safe." Drawing my brows together, I pull

course I do, sweetheart. And we're going to

here while you look

on if I can get

in this with you. But I

not asking

as he takes

his anger has filled this room since you first started talking, and yet he is still trying to see your side. Do not be afraid to speak your mind, Ava. Only communication

and rub her ears.

can have this fight anywhere, but if clothes come off, I ask

bedroom

with her saliva, she saunters back to the

us. "What's going

which

that I realize the effects of

shouldn't have been able to say that to him. I should have

A Weight

did the

distracting me

that."

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

He's trying.

Like I am.

do you think I'm a

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

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

at me."

I don't.

Wolf or no wolf, I want you by my side. I never should have

you."