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-"

I was Queen,

hanging open. "Wait, you were a queen? Like, an actual

primly, sitting straight with her head

offending her. Because I'm so what? Selene tilts her head, those ice-blue eyes staring deep into my soul. In

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

Discerning. Yes. Discerning tastes.

try to keep

continues to bare her

the reprieve,

returning to the packing

has a strong

That's crazy talk.

vague idea forms in

suitcase tucking

about me,

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

take kindly to th I have no interest

need to be shared. It freedom

suitcase, n I do so. "I don't know,

1 One of my

firend will

avoyut you Ava

dore now that he knee the

really seeing them,

my head. Tell her Don't tell her

want to

always so

that's a

for my past. And Lucas... was angry

supportive."

Vanessa cares about you, Ava. She deserves to know the truth, and we could use

nod slowly, my decision

she needs to agree with me, of course.

my brain

She sounds startled. Vanessa isn't

know that. That's not what I mean. I have an

An idea?

to get some information