Tangled

167

167

167 Ava: Mom's Stronger?

"Mom?" I ask in disbelief.

It can't be. How can Mom be stronger than the pack beta?

In another pack, your mother would have been a strong Luna candidate.

Wow.

I'd always known Mom had a strong presence, but I would have never guessed-never, in a million years, ever-that her wolf is stronger than Dad's.

I wonder how that worked out. Did Mom force her wolf to submit?

It is likely that the alpha did.

"Alpha Renard?"

Correct. An alpha's bond can force submission in any wolf, and change dynamics as he wishes.

I'd heard about things like that, of course. I knew we all had to submit, and I knew he had the power to force submission-but I don't think I've ever heard of him forcing wolves to submit to other wolves. It happens.

"Wow." Despite my visit with Mom yesterday, I feel a little sorry for

her.

A woman like her? With a strong wolf? She must have felt so stifled in this pack.

17:38

152 Ava Mom's Strompra?

Your mother is strong in wolf, but weak in human, she explains. Not all souls are well matched.

"You said she would be a strong Lupa candidate. Why can't strong female wolves be alphas?"

They can be. They used to be. Selene sounds frustrated. But today's wolves don't recognize it. An alpha today would have been King in

my era.

My mind jiggles. A Lycan King.

Wait a second.

"Sister Miriam called you-"

was Queen, in

stare at Selene, my mouth hanging open. "Wait, you were

says primly, sitting straight with her head

finish the sentence, I try to think of a way to end it without offending her. Because I'm so what? Selene tilts her head, those ice-blue eyes staring deep into my soul. In her dog form, it's adorable. But that mental

she curls her lip over her teeth in a silent snarl. I am not finicky. Vampires are

finicky. Discerning. Yes. Discerning tastes.

to keep a straight

continues to bare her

the reprieve,

returning to

a

That's crazy talk.

forms in my

suitcase tucking them

to tell Vanessa about

shirt dang we're trying to keep you a secret." about Selene, the more I feel

wolves don't take kindly to th

shared. It freedom outside of these

do so. "I don't know, Selene.

my few allies in Westwood; me with

tror firend

and avoyut you Ava hist like

na like Lacas dore now that he

without really seeing them, I pick it

head. Tell her Don't tell her

should want to tell her

I'm always so

that's a weakness

right. Lisa never judged me for being a shifter or for my past. And

supportive."

She deserves to know the truth,

decision made.

she agrees with me. The caveat being that she needs to agree with me, of course.

more purposeful when I resume packing as my idea roots into my

sounds startled. Vanessa isn't

not what I mean. I have

An idea?

some information out