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

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

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Weight off

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

lowered lashes.

Thoughtful. Concerned. Calm.

Ever the rational alpha."

man, I tell Selene in

moment. You don't smell

What an odd

man, Ava. She doesn't sound like she's choking over the words anymore, but there's something there that I can't quite put my finger

his fingers tensing for a moment over my hand. "I

"Yes?"

you to stay away from

"But that's-"

look into this a little more. To keep you safe." Drawing my brows together, I pull my

And we're going to do everything in our power to

while you look into things. I

to take on if I can get

alone, Ava. We are all in

not asking for permission,

takes a deep breath, and Selene pipes up in my

not be afraid to speak your

and rub her ears.

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

bedroom

wet with her saliva, she saunters back to

between us.

show on now-to her second favorite, which is running yet another one of her shows. I've

only then that I realize the effects of

have been able to say that to him. I should have blabbed

Ava, A Weight off Her

the

me," he says hesitantly, distracting me from that line of thought. "I appreciate you opening up to me, and

that."

reciting lines from a book, but

He's trying.

Like I am.

you think

waiting for his answer. Instead, I

would you think that?" His hands.

at me."

I don't.

or no wolf, I want you by my side. I

you."