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, in my

open. "Wait, you were

sitting straight

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 voice of hers is almost purring

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

Yes. Discerning tastes.

I try to keep a straight

continues to bare her

for the reprieve,

returning to the packing

has a strong

That's crazy talk.

idea forms in my

half-packed suitcase tucking

to tell Vanessa about me, cutting through my

a shirt dang we're trying to keep you a

take kindly to th I have no interest in

be shared.

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

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

tror firend will understandd

you Ava

now that he knee

the Butcher without really seeing them, I pick it

her Keep secrets. But why? If

to

I'm always so

a weakness

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

supportive."

to know the truth, and we could use her

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

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

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

She sounds startled. Vanessa isn't at the

That's not what I mean. I have

An idea?

idea to get some information out of