Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 60 Ava: Homecoming (II)

When Mom and Dad walk through the door, dinner isn't ready, because I haven't once left the couch.

I'm two episodes into a back-to-back marathon of Selene's favorite show. Todd and his two goonies have tried to get me to cook, but I've ignored them at every turn.

I find it interesting that they never once tried to physically drag me into the kitchen. They would have before.

I don't think it's my attitude; they're the kind who would beat it out of you, not back down.

So, it's the order Phoenix gave. But why? What's planned for me?

Before I left, it was to use me as a breeder for the pack. That isn't the kind of future where I'm protected from beatings. That means there's something more…

My stomach clenches. Do they know about my heat?

They have to.

There's no other explanation.

If they know I went into heat, then they'll likely know about the supposed 'true omega' designation Clayton's pack had given me.

And if they think I'm that…

Shit.

When the front door opens, I don't budge. Not a muscle twitches.

"Ava Grey. Your brother spends all this time to find you and bring you home safely, and you can't

my eyes trained

me. I can feel Todd get up

behind her, his broad frame filling the doorway. His eyes find me on the couch and his expression darkens. Without a word,

gaze, unflinching. His eyes bore into mine, a storm of emotions swirling in their depths. Anger, disappointment, and something else I can't quite place—a hint

on. Mom's cold stare digs into the side of my face, but

the muscles flexing beneath his weathered skin. For a moment, I think he might

never come. He simply stands there, his gaze locked with mine,

at Mom and says, "Have something delivered. The

hidden deep in my heart. There's no point in pushing the

gaze to the TV. "So good to see you've been so worried about me. So many questions about how

shut, too. When did I develop this

missing, and not

my life like this for two decades is more than

can't do another

my dad says in

I say, refusing to call

your absence. I'm

not, so I

Ava," she admonishes, her voice like ice. "Get dressed

as I look down at my worn-out jeans, with holes in the knees and in a couple places along my thighs, and my faded t-shirt that might have seen better days a hundred years ago. Mom's gaze is cutting, appraising me from head to toe with an expression

she always is, in a designer dress that could put

hand down my body with