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,

Selene says primly, sitting straight with her head

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 tilts her head, those ice-blue eyes

teeth in a silent snarl. I am

Yes. Discerning tastes. That's what

try to

continues to

for the reprieve, I

to the

a strong

That's crazy talk.

forms in

suitcase tucking

tell Vanessa about

dang we're trying to keep you a secret." about

wolves don't take kindly to th

need to be shared. It freedom outside

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

kind. 1 One of my few allies in Westwood; me with

firend will understandd

you Ava hist like

Lacas dore now that

without really seeing them, I pick

her Don't tell her

to

I'm always

guess that's a weakness

judged me for being a shifter or for my past. And Lucas... was angry at first, but he's been nothing

supportive."

She deserves to know the

nod slowly, my decision made. "Okay. We'll tell

caveat being that she needs to agree with me,

resume packing as my idea roots into my brain with insistence. "We'll talk to her when we get back from the

sounds startled. Vanessa

know that. That's not what I

An idea?

some information out