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-"

Queen, in my

mouth hanging open. "Wait, you were a queen?

says primly, sitting straight with

way to end it without offending her. Because I'm so what? Selene tilts her

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

Yes. Discerning tastes. That's

try to keep a straight

continues to bare her

the

to the

a

That's crazy talk.

vague idea forms in

tucking them inside, trying

about me, cutting through

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

th I

to be shared.

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

1 One of my few allies

firend will

you

na like Lacas dore now

really seeing them, I pick

head. Tell her Don't tell her Keep secrets. But why?

should want to

I'm always so

that's a

shifter or for my past. And Lucas... was angry at first, but

supportive."

Vanessa cares about you, Ava. She deserves to know the truth,

slowly, my decision

that she needs to agree with me, of course. And she holds significant sway over her mate, Vester. This should

my idea roots into my brain with

sounds startled. Vanessa isn't at

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

An idea?

to get some