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

open. "Wait, you

Selene says primly, sitting

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 staring deep into my soul. In her dog form, it's adorable. But that mental voice of

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

Discerning. Yes. Discerning tastes. That's what

I try to keep a straight

continues to

for the

to

a strong

That's crazy talk.

vague idea forms in

half-packed suitcase tucking

about me, cutting through

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

kindly to th I have no interest in

to be shared. It freedom outside of

I do so. "I

my few

firend will understandd

avoyut you Ava

na like Lacas dore now that he knee the

really seeing them, I pick it

my head. Tell her Don't tell her Keep secrets.

want to tell

I'm always so

a weakness of

me for being a shifter or for my past. And Lucas...

supportive."

to know

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

buck Lucas' rules if she agrees with me. The caveat being that she needs

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

startled. Vanessa isn't

that. That's not what I mean. I

An idea?

some information