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,

mouth hanging open. "Wait,

Selene says primly, sitting straight with

Lycan Queen, I 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

her teeth in a silent

Discerning. Yes. Discerning tastes. That's what

try to

continues to

the

returning to

has a

That's crazy talk.

forms

half-packed suitcase tucking them inside, trying

to tell Vanessa about me,

to keep you a secret." about Selene, the

kindly to th I have no interest in spreading

need to be shared. It freedom outside of

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

been so warm and kind. 1 One of my few allies in Westwood; me with weighted

tror firend

avoyut you Ava hist like

like Lacas dore now

at the Butcher without really seeing them, I pick it

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

should want to

I'm always

guess that's a

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

supportive."

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

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

Lucas' rules if she agrees with me. The caveat being that she needs to agree with me, of

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

hospital? She sounds startled. Vanessa isn't

That's not what I mean. I have an

An idea?

get some information out