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, in

hanging open. "Wait, you were a

Selene says primly, sitting straight with her

I figured it was 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 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.

teeth in a silent snarl. I

Discerning. Yes. Discerning tastes.

to keep a

continues to

the reprieve,

to the packing

has a

That's crazy talk.

forms

my half-packed suitcase tucking them inside,

about me,

keep you a secret." about

take kindly to th I have no interest in

shared. It freedom outside of

suitcase, n I do so. "I don't

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

firend will

you

now that he

really seeing them, I pick it

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

want to tell

I'm always

a

shifter or for my past. And Lucas... was

supportive."

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

nod slowly, my decision made. "Okay.

afraid to buck Lucas' rules if she agrees with me. The caveat being that she needs to agree with me, of course. And she holds significant sway over

I resume packing as my idea roots into my brain with

She sounds startled. Vanessa isn't

not what I mean.

An idea?

some information