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

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

sitting straight

figured 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 staring deep into my soul. In her dog

Selene's fur bristles as she curls her lip over her teeth in a silent snarl. I

Yes. Discerning tastes. That's

to keep a straight

continues to

the reprieve, I

to the packing

a strong

That's crazy talk.

vague idea forms in

tucking them inside,

to tell Vanessa about me, cutting

a shirt dang we're trying to keep you a secret." about Selene, the

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

to be shared. It freedom outside of these

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

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

firend will

and avoyut you Ava

like Lacas dore now that

seeing them, I pick it all

Don't tell her Keep secrets. But why?

want to

I'm always so

a weakness

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

supportive."

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

my decision made. "Okay.

me. The caveat being that she needs to

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

She sounds startled. Vanessa isn't at the

that. That's not what I mean.

An idea?

idea to get some information out