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,

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

primly, sitting straight

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

her teeth in a silent snarl.

Discerning. Yes. Discerning tastes.

to keep a

continues to bare her

the reprieve,

returning to the packing

a strong

That's crazy talk.

idea forms

tucking them inside, trying to

tell Vanessa about

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

kindly to th I have no

need to be shared. It freedom outside

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

my few allies in Westwood; me with weighted stares

tror firend will understandd

and avoyut you

now that

the Butcher without really seeing them, I pick it all

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

to tell

I'm always

a weakness of

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

supportive."

you, Ava. She deserves to know the truth, and

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

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

movements are more purposeful when I resume packing as my idea roots into my

hospital? She sounds startled. Vanessa isn't at the

that. That's not what I mean.

An idea?

idea to get some information out