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-"

Queen, in

my mouth hanging open. "Wait, you were a

Selene says primly, sitting straight with

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

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

Yes. Discerning

I try to keep

continues to

for the reprieve,

returning to the

has a strong

That's crazy talk.

idea forms in

my half-packed suitcase tucking them inside, trying

about me,

to keep you a secret." about

take kindly to th I have no interest in spreading

be shared. It freedom

shirt into the suitcase, n I do so. "I

been so warm and kind. 1 One of my

tror firend will

you

na like Lacas dore now that

seeing them, I pick it all

Tell her Don't tell her Keep secrets.

to tell her my

I'm always

guess that's a weakness of

or for my past. And Lucas... was angry at first, but he's been nothing

supportive."

about you, Ava. She deserves to know

slowly, my decision

she agrees with me. The caveat being that she needs to agree with me,

my brain with insistence.

hospital? She sounds startled.

know that. That's not what I mean. I have

An idea?

idea to get some information out of