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,

says primly, sitting straight with her head

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 hers is

Selene's fur bristles as she curls her lip over her teeth in a silent snarl. I am not

Discerning. Yes. Discerning

to keep a straight

to

for the reprieve, I

returning to

a

That's crazy talk.

forms in

half-packed suitcase tucking them

Vanessa about me, cutting

we're trying to keep you a

th I have no interest in spreading

to be shared. It freedom outside

into the suitcase, n I do so. "I

my few allies in Westwood; me with weighted stares

tror firend will understandd

avoyut you Ava hist

dore now that he knee

without really seeing

her Keep secrets.

should want to

I'm always so

that's a weakness of

a shifter or for my past. And Lucas... was angry at first, but he's been

supportive."

cares about you, Ava. She deserves to know the truth,

slowly, my decision made.

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

resume packing as my idea roots into my brain with insistence. "We'll

startled.

that. That's not what I mean. I

An idea?

some