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 mouth hanging open. "Wait,

says primly, sitting straight

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

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

Yes. Discerning tastes. That's what

to

continues to bare

for the reprieve,

to the packing

a strong

That's crazy talk.

idea forms in

suitcase tucking them inside, trying

need to tell Vanessa about

to keep you a secret." about Selene,

to th I have no interest in

shared. It

so.

1 One of my few allies in Westwood; me with

firend will

you Ava

now that he knee

really seeing them,

head. Tell her Don't tell her Keep

want to tell her

always

a

Lisa never judged me for being a shifter or for my past. And Lucas... was angry at first, but he's

supportive."

to know the

decision made. "Okay. We'll

The caveat being that she needs to agree with me, of course. And she

more purposeful when I resume packing as my idea roots into my brain with insistence.

hospital? She sounds startled. Vanessa isn't

That's not what I mean.

An idea?

to get some information out