Tangled

194

194

194 Ava: Garden Visit

"Are you okay?"

Vanessa pops into my field of view with a steaming cup of what smells like hot chocolate.

Much better than coffee.

"I'm okay."

The steam from the mug assaults my face with humidity and heat, reminding me that summer is over.

The weather isn't chilly enough for hot cocoa to be a regular occurrence, and the wind is a little too warm against my skin, but the rich chocolate flavor that coats my tongue brings comfort.

It's a small thing, but it helps ground my racing thoughts as Vanessa settles beside me on the bench.

Out here, in the small garden behind the alpha lodge, there's only peace under the vast expanse of darkness and stars. Selene

slumbers peacefully a few feet away, her silver fur almost glowing in the moonlight.

There are, of course, the ever-present guards stationed around us. Four of them, at least.

But at least they're giving me this time out here, instead of leaving me to my misery indoors.

"How are you holding up this week Ava? Since we last talked... A lot seems to have changed. You look different. You sound different." Vanessa's gentle question pulls me from my thoughts.

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Thinking about this past week is much better than thinking about Mom, and how quickly her life had slipped away in front of me.

I stare into the depths of my mug, as if the answers might be found swirling in the chocolate. "It's been

hard," I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. "Mostly, it feels like I'm stumbling in the dark, unsure of which direction to take. And I don't like the person I see in my memories. I've been cringing at a lot of thin Vanessa's hand rests on my arm, a reassuring touch. "Don't overthink it. Trust in those around you. We're here to support you."

Her words are meant to comfort, but they remind me of the tensions within the pack. Another distraction I grab onto gratefully. "What about Jericho? Lucas and Kellan don't

seem to listen to him much, even though they seem to respect him."

"One of the worst epidemics among wolf shifters

afraid. It's hard

my head, I try

pairing the word idiot with alpha isn't something I'm comfortable

alpha's most trusted advisors end up retiring. New blood, loyal to the current alpha, is brought

mind reels. That explains a lot. I wondered why

of them twitch at the compliment,

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194 Ava: Garden Visit

hear

as I can

to rest her elbows on her knees.

case, he made some mistakes that led to the death of the previous alpha and his Luna. It's a stigma he's never been able to fully shake in Lucas' mind, even with all of his hard work raising

Stupid? Absolutely

comes out of

are only the guards

talk about Lucas

"They're used to

I've made it out to be. You'll hear about it

There isn't

I just say, "Oh," and stare at the sky again. "If that mistake changed how they think of Jericho, I'm never going to get the pack to see me as Luna material after the massa "You will. Wolves are used

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194 Ava: Garden Visit

a single hotheaded idiot. He became the alpha when he was older, and now his son is alpha." Crossing my arms over my abdomen, I refrain from pointing out that I'm twenty years old, not fifteen. But it gives me a

a pup, Selene whispers. Clearly, she's not really

feeling bad, wondering how to

She's just casually perched there, looking ahead of her,

Jericho keeps telling me to stop wallowing and feeling sorry for myself and start acting, but I

sentence.

know what to do

"Yeah."

better choices than the day before. Apologize to those you've wronged. Take responsibility for your actions.

too simplistic of a world view after everything

"I'm trying."

"I know."

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194 Ava: Garden Visit

at her side profile again, I

that you lose sight of who you are. Making mistake-even a terrible one-doesn't mean that you lose the