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

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

Selene says primly, sitting

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 almost purring with danger. "Um. You know.

lip over her teeth in a

Yes. Discerning tastes. That's

to

to

the reprieve, I

returning to the

has a strong

That's crazy talk.

idea forms in

my half-packed suitcase tucking them

to tell Vanessa about

we're trying to keep you a secret." about Selene, the more I feel like

to th I have no interest

secrets need to be shared. It freedom outside of

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

my few allies in Westwood; me with weighted

firend

you Ava hist

Lacas dore now that he knee

Butcher without really seeing them, I pick it all

her Don't tell her Keep secrets. But why? If I

want to tell

always so

that's a weakness

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

supportive."

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

decision made. "Okay.

afraid to buck Lucas' rules if she agrees with me. The caveat being that she needs to

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

hospital? She sounds startled.

not what I mean. I have

An idea?

some