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 my

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

says primly, sitting straight with her head

end it without offending her. Because I'm so what? Selene tilts her head, those ice-blue eyes staring deep

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

Discerning tastes. That's what

to keep a straight

continues to

the

returning to the

a

That's crazy talk.

vague idea forms in my

half-packed suitcase tucking them inside, trying to

tell Vanessa about me, cutting through

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

wolves don't take kindly to th I have no interest in

need to be shared. It freedom

so. "I don't know, Selene. What Vanessa might

of my few allies in Westwood; me with weighted stares and

tror firend will

you Ava

like Lacas dore now

without really seeing

her Don't tell her

to tell her

I'm always

a weakness of

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

supportive."

Ava. She deserves to know the truth, and we could

slowly, my decision made.

she needs to agree

more purposeful when I resume packing as my idea roots into my

She sounds startled. Vanessa

know that. That's not what

An idea?

to get some information out