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

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

Ava, A Weight

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

lowered lashes.

Thoughtful. Concerned. Calm.

Ever the rational alpha."

man, I tell

moment. You don't

What an odd

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

over my hand. "I

"Yes?"

"I need you to stay away from

"But that's-"

"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

we're going to do everything

to sit here while you look into things. I know

on if I can get even one step closer to bringing

all in this with you. But I can't just

not asking for

I know. His eyes close as he takes

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.

and rub her ears.

fight anywhere, but if clothes come off, I ask

bedroom

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

between us. "What's

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

that I realize the effects

to say that to him. I should have blabbed my entire

Weight

did the effects

feel as though you can't talk to me," he says hesitantly, distracting me from that

that."

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

He's trying.

Like I am.

you think I'm

waiting for his answer. Instead,

course not. Ava, why would you think that?" His hands.

at me."

I don't.

don't have to. But really, really listen to my words. Ava, you're not a freak. Wolf or no 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 just

you."