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

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

Selene says primly, sitting

I figured it was because you're so..." Trailing off before I can finish the sentence, I try to think of a way to end it without offending her. Because I'm so what?

Selene's fur bristles as she curls her lip over her teeth in a silent snarl.

Yes. Discerning tastes. That's what

to keep a straight

to

for the reprieve, I

returning to the

has a strong

That's crazy talk.

vague idea forms

my half-packed suitcase tucking them inside, trying

about me,

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

take kindly to th I have

to be shared. It freedom

into the suitcase, n I do so. "I don't know, Selene. What Vanessa might feel

warm and kind. 1 One of my few allies in Westwood; me with weighted stares and

firend will

avoyut you Ava hist

dore now that

really seeing them, I pick it

tell her Keep secrets. But

want to tell her

I'm always so

that's a weakness of

never judged me for being a shifter or for my past. And Lucas... was angry at first,

supportive."

deserves to know the truth, and

slowly, my decision made. "Okay.

The caveat being that she needs to agree with me, of course. And she holds significant sway

resume packing as my idea roots into my brain with insistence. "We'll talk to her when

She sounds startled.

what I mean.

An idea?

idea to get some