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,

"I need to know more about this power. It's putt people around

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Weight

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

lowered lashes.

Thoughtful. Concerned. Calm.

Ever the rational alpha."

man, I tell Selene in

moment. You

an odd

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

over

"Yes?"

need you to

"But that's-"

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

course I do, sweetheart. And we're going to do everything in our power to get her

here while you

if I can get

are all in

asking for

as he takes a deep breath,

scent of 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

and rub her ears.

couch. You two can have this fight anywhere, but if clothes come off, I ask

bedroom

lap, wet with her saliva, she saunters back to the living

glances between us. "What's going

a talk show on now-to her second favorite, which is

I realize the effects of the food have worn

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

Weight off

the

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

that."

a book, but Selene's

He's trying.

Like I am.

do you think I'm a

question comes out unbidden, and I can't stare at his face while waiting for

why would you think that?" His hands. cover mine,

at me."

I don't.

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

you."