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

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

primly, sitting straight with her

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 eyes staring

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

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

I try to

continues to bare her

for the

to the packing

a strong

That's crazy talk.

idea forms

half-packed suitcase tucking

need to tell Vanessa about

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

don't take kindly to th I have

secrets need to be shared. It freedom

the shirt into the suitcase, n I do so. "I don't know,

of my few allies in Westwood; me

firend will

and avoyut you Ava

dore now that he knee the

the Butcher without really seeing them, I

Don't tell her Keep

should want to tell her my

I'm always

guess that's a

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

supportive."

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

nod slowly, my decision made. "Okay.

caveat being that she needs to agree with

I resume packing as my idea roots into my

sounds startled.

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

An idea?

idea to get some information out of