Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 167 Ava: Mom's Stronger?

"Mom?" | 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 | 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. | knew we all had to submit, and | knew he had the power to force

submission—but | 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, | feel a little sorry for her.

A woman like her? With a strong wolf? She must have felt so stifled in this pack.

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 Luna 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—"

Yes. | was Queen, in my time.

| stare at Selene, my mouth hanging open. "Wait, you were a queen? Like, an actual queen?"

Yes, Selene says primly, sitting straight with her head high.

"When she called you Lycan Queen, | figured it was because you're so..." Trailing off before I can finish the

sentence, | 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. You know. Finicky?"

Finicky?! Selene's fur bristles as she curls her lip over her teeth in a silent snarl. | am not finicky. Vampires are

finicky creatures.

"Not finicky. Discerning. Yes. Discerning tastes. That's what | meant." | try to keep a straight face, but a giggle

escapes my lips.

Selene continues to bare her teeth, but glances away.

Grateful for the reprieve, | scratch at her neck in silent apology before returning to the packing process Margot

had interrupted.

Mom has a strong wolf.

That's crazy talk.

A vague idea forms in my mind.

Grabbing my half-packed suitcase, | start folding clothes and tucking them inside, trying to focus on the task at

hand.

We need to tell Vanessa about me, Selene says, her mental voice cutting through my thoughts.

"What? Why?" | pause, a shirt dangling from my hands. "I thought we're trying to keep you a secret." The more

people who know about Selene, the more | feel like she's in danger. Or me.

Most wolves don't take kindly to those of us who are different, and | have no interest in spreading that

information.

Ssecrets need to be shared. It's shackling us. We have no freedom outside of these guards.

| stuff the shirt into the suitcase, not really paying attention to how I do so. "I don't know, Selene. What if it ruins

our friendship? Vanessa might feel betrayed that | kept this from her."

Vanessa's been so warm and kind. Losing her would be terrible. One of my few allies in Westwood; someone who

doesn't look atwith weighted stares and judgment behind every action.

A true friend will understand and accept you, Ava. Just like Lisa does. Just like Lucas does, now that he knows the

truth.

Staring at the suitcase without really seeing them, | pick it all apart in my head. Tell her. Don't tell her. Keep

secrets. But why? If | like her, | should want to tell her my secrets.

But I'm always so afraid.

| guess that's a weakness of mine.

"You're right. Lisa never judgedfor being a shifter or for my past. And Lucas... was angry at first, but he's

been nothing but supportive."

Exactly. Vanessa cares about you, Ava. She deserves to know the truth, and we could use her help.

I nod slowly, my decision made. "Okay. We'll tell her."

Vanessa won't be 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 her mate, Vester.

This should help.

My movements are more purposeful when | respacking as my idea roots into my brain with insistence.

"We'll talk to her when we get back from the hospital."

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

"I know that. That's not what | mean. | have an idea."

An idea?

"An idea to get sinformation out of Mom."

She watchesfor a long moment. You wantto talk to her wolf.

| nod. "Exactly."

| can attempt to do so, but if | do, your mother will know what | am. She still has an alpha bond with Renard. This

is not something to take lightly.

The purpose that fueled my veins disappears abruptly. "Oh. Shit."

You can be assured they already know you're here. This is why Lucas wants you to return.

Now | get it. The guards. The safety. The worries about Blackwood sympathizers.

The pack link isn't something | think about often, as | never had the ability to talk to other wolves in my mind.

"So they're sitting here, working for the betterment of everyone, while they keep reporting every move to

Renard?"

Of course.

Seriously. No wonder it's been such a headache.

"They should force everyone to renounce the pack."

Sconsider it barbaric. It's a delicate situation. Selene doesn't sound like she agrees.

Another idea glimmers in my mind. "Selene, you're an alpha, aren't you?"

We didn't use the designation then. But yes.

What I'm considering sounds a little evil, even to me. Part ofrebels against the idea. But the part ofthat

wants to save Lisa urgeson.

"Can you force Mom to renounce her pack?"

Selene goes silent and still, only the tip of her tail swishing as she thinks.

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