Tangled

176

176

176 Ava: Attending the Rites

Odd? How so?

Selene's soft whine catches Kellan's attention. "We'll be there soon. Will she be okay?"

It doesn't seem that he realizes the dog is not actually a dog. "She's

fine."

I thought I had all my memory, but when I try to think back, everything is fuzzy. Even my own name doesn't come to mind.

My head aches at the thought of trying to unravel that. What kind of memories? From becoming a dog?

Not exactly. My past life. My identity. Many things... Things I thought I remembered. Vanessa's words sound familiar, but I cannot access the memories. It feels important. That just sounds... Yeah. She's right. It's odd.

How long have they been missing?

Silence.

Then, I don't know. Forever.

Leaning down, I rub at Selene's head. It'll be okay. I'm sure we'll figure it out. But we both know my promise is hollow. I have no way of keeping it.

Selene whines again, resting her head on her paws as she stays beneath my chair. Ava, am I a detriment to you?

Of course not. My denial is swift and from the heart. But... I think

176 Ava Altending the Rites

we might make bad decisions together.

Her mood plummets; I can feel it in the back of my head. Like Lucas and his wolf, as children.

Scratching behind her ears in gentle consolation, my heart is

buoyed when she leans against my touch. You have given me much strength by being here. We'll figure it out together. Together, she confirms, but that insecure edge to her words is still

there.

***

walk resembles

make it to the pack lands as twilight hits. The entire place

No lights on.

No people.

signs of life at

deep in the forest, filled with people. Some are in wolf form. A few are naked. Others are

drive; everyone else used

as I see so many of them turn in our

my leg; Kellan hadn't wanted to

Attending

insisted she

whispers, slinking out

struts about with confidence, tail high and head erect... But

the same way.

Like I don't belong.

Filled with shame.

sinks. Lucas hadn't mentioned that three more people

silence, save for the occasional mourning keen. There are no words

surrounding the pyres, the entire clearing

my back, guiding me with gentle pressure as he points or tugs me in different directions as he leads m We finally settle on a place near Jericho, who stares grimly ahead, his jaw

is somber, a heaviness pressing

until it's

the weight of so much loss, I'm hit with the price

17

thresereaths are on my

of

Every single one

a madman bur it bleeds for she dead for the familles left behind. For the pack that will

when my actions have caused so much pain. Not when I've been so focused on my own desires that I

up at him. His face is a mask of stoucisa, but I can see the cracks in his armor. The warr his eyes shine with unsited tears. The tightness around his mouth. Tim sorry I whisper, my voice barely

of the mourners

down at me, his brow

selfish. For not thinking about

me, anguish clear in his eyes. His

away, staring ahead again. It's not your fault. Ava. You didn't cause this. We were too arrogant in the safety

our land:

heart. I recognize the

been at that