Tangled

2 Ava: Invitation

The eyes stalk me from the shadows, unblinking. Unwavering.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

My hands tremble as I turn the key again. The engine sputters, coughs. Please. Please start. I can’t die here. Not like this.

Another turn. A whine. A sputter.

The wolf steps out from the tree line, massive and menacing. Its fur blends with the night, a specter of death and torment.

I can’t make out any distinguishing features in the darkness. No way to know which of my abusers has come for me tonight.

The engine roars to life. Thank God. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ FindNøvᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

I slam my foot on the accelerator, tires screeching against pavement as I peel off down the road. My heart hammers against my ribs, blood rushing in my ears.

In the rearview mirror, I can see the wolf chasing me.

2 Ava: Invitation

Keeping pace with my car as I navigate the winding

roads.

He howls, a promise of pain.

It’s all a familiar, sick game. I hate it. I never know when it’s coming; when someone’s bored enough to begin.

It never ends well though. Not for me.

The streets of my neighborhood come into view. Mom and Dad won’t save me, even if I’m being slaughtered in the front yard–but if I can make it inside, that’s a different story.

No one disrespects the beta’s home.

I whip into an awful parallel parking job, the car jerking to a stop. My hands shake as I fumble for my keys, dropping them twice before I manage to grab them.

I just need to get inside.

Throwing open the car door, I stagger out on

trembling legs. The keys jangle in my grip as I stumble

towards the front door.

Almost there. Almost-

2 Ava: Invitation

car as

howls, a promise of pain.

all a familiar, sick game. I hate it. I never know when it’s coming; when someone’s bored enough

ends well though. Not for me.

my neighborhood come into view. Mom and Dad won’t save me, even if I’m being slaughtered in the front yard–but if I can make it inside, that’s a different story.

the

awful parallel parking job, the car jerking to a stop. My hands shake as I fumble

just need to get inside.

car door, I stagger out on

in

the front door.

Almost there. Almost-

2 Ava: Invitation

smell wet

clenched between white knuckles. My

dagger–like fangs. His russet fur tells me

Todd.

loves to torment me

watches as I grab the door from behind my back, turn, and

is a reprieve;

the damage to my car. I have no idea how much it will cost to repair my cracked windshield; it’ll eat into the savings I’ve been painstakingly

Damn it.

“Ava. Come here.“/

Straightening my shoulders, I walk toward my

2 Ava: Invitation

stomach.

doesn’t give a shit. He knows exactly what they do to me; as long as it isn’t in his

seated in his favorite armchair, his expression

time we had eye contact outside of being dressed down.

my head as I enter the room, focusing my gaze on

words. All he wants to see is my submission. Words are a waste of time coming from

my wrist; they’re blind to any injuries or

money from your… job to be properly dressed for the occasion. Be grateful that

hands tingle with shock,

2. Ava: Invitation

105

all that anxiety to settle straight into

little harder, and then skips another. The Lunar Gala. I’ve missed out

Northwestern Territories.

hoping to find their

unwind after the Northwestern Council meets and talks all their pack politics–but in reality, the Lunar Gala is more of

the Blackwood Pack to attend this year. Even Jessa hasn’t been to one; historically, our entire pack avoids it. The official story is that there’s bad blood between a few alphas and ours, but I doubt the

is a palpable force in the room, and I risk a quick glance upward. He’s looking over my head,

2 Ava: Invitation

beneath his notice.

some offensive odor came through, but of course there’s nothing. Just me.

that, he leaves. No more explanations. Just a beta throwing out his orders and expecting everything to fall into