Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 64 Ava: Homecoming (VI)

Hot water scalds my hands as I scrub dishes in mindless monotony. Anger. Fear. Despair. They all churn together in a toxic mix that threatens to drown me.

I have to stay strong, stay focused. Alpha Renard has made his intentions clear.

The plates clatter against each other as I rinse them, the sound almost therapeutic in its familiarity. This is what my life has been reduced to—cleaning up after my family, tiptoeing around their expectations, their rules, their control. A mere shadow in my own home.

Muted voices drift in from the other room, and it's impossible not to overhear the tense exchange between Phoenix and my father.

"...even more reports of rogues crossing the border," Phoenix growls, his voice laced with anger. "We can't let them encroach on our territory."

My father's response is quieter, but no less stern. "Have you confirmed the sightings? This has to be done carefully, or else the Council can intervene."

"We can't afford to be complacent," Phoenix snaps.

What does the Council have to do with rogues? Every pack has the right to deal with rogues as they wish. My confusion has me straining my ears to hear more.

"Easy, son." My father's tone is placating, but there's an undercurrent of steel beneath it. "Just handle this discreetly. As long as we're only touching the rogues, no one can do anything. They're just learning from our game. As long as there's no evidence, the Council can't touch us."

"That means the Council can't touch them, either," Phoenix growls.

"All in due time. We just have to wait a little longer, and everything will be set."

"It would have been better if Jessa had managed to stay there."

little point

twist of his lips. "Westwood sent her back as a challenge. Lucas

at the mention of that name, memories of intense

can somehow get word

It's possible.

for how he treated me. But are his apologies enough to

better

of our concerns right now," my father rumbles.

then Phoenix speaks again, his voice low and dangerous. "What about the Aspen Pack? You don't think they're involved in this somehow? Isn't it odd that Ava was found there, right after Lucas was seen with her in

and I strain to hear my father's

why they suddenly began looking for me? To use

well," Dad says grimly. "But we need to keep Ava with us. She's our

knot forms in my stomach. There are too many eyes between Blackwood and Westwood to ever reach Lucas, and

Council's approval. Because Ava is our pack, we can argue that Aspen kidnapped her. It's easy enough to neutralize them as

* * *

lounging on the couch the next morning when I venture downstairs. The house is eerily quiet, devoid of the usual bustle of my family's presence. It's unsettling,

I approach, her fingers tapping away at

a deep breath and settle onto the couch near her, careful to maintain a respectful distance. "Hey, Jess," I venture, my voice sounding

lowers her phone and turns to face me, her blue eyes

to formulate a response. What do I want? I want to be free of this suffocating house, this oppressive pack. I want to find my way back to

I can't say any of that, not to Jessa. Not when I don't know

wanted to chat, I guess. It's been a while since we've had

she tries to decipher my motives. "Since