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.

20.02

1/6

194 Ava: Garden Visit

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."

with weariness. "One of

a product of their wolf legacy, I'm afraid. It's hard to get them to go back on

try

idiots, but pairing the word idiot with alpha isn't something I'm

takes over, many of the previous alpha's most trusted advisors end up retiring. New blood, loyal to the

I wondered why all my

single one of them twitch at the

20.02 C

2/6

194 Ava: Garden Visit

can hear every word we're

alpha for as long as I can remember, so I've never seen it happen

leaning forward to rest her elbows on

he's never been able to

Absolutely asinine? I

sound halfway between a laugh and a gasp comes out of

there are only the guards

talk about Lucas like that." I pause.

hand, she watches Selene, who's still sleeping. "They're

made it out to be. You'll

There isn't

they think of Jericho, I'm never going to get

20:02

3/6

194 Ava: Garden Visit

now his son is alpha." Crossing my arms over my abdomen, I refrain from pointing out that

a pup, Selene whispers.

bad, wondering how to make things

casually perched there, looking ahead of her, making

for myself and start acting, but I don't..." Flapping my hands

sentence.

know what to do

"Yeah."

Ava. You just have to move forward trying to make better choices than the day before.

a little too simplistic of a world view after

"I'm trying."

"I know."

4/6

194 Ava: Garden Visit

her side profile again, I can see

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