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-"

I was Queen,

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

sitting straight

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

her lip over her teeth

finicky. Discerning. Yes. Discerning tastes. That's what

try to

to bare her

the reprieve,

returning to

a strong

That's crazy talk.

vague idea forms

suitcase tucking them inside, trying

to tell Vanessa about

to keep you a secret." about Selene, the more

don't take kindly to th

shared. It freedom

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

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

tror firend will understandd

and avoyut you Ava

Lacas dore now that he knee

Butcher without really seeing

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

should want to tell

I'm always so

guess that's a weakness

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

supportive."

deserves to know

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

that she needs to agree

packing as my idea roots into my brain with

sounds startled.

that. That's not what I mean. I

An idea?

idea to get some information