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 I navigate

a promise of

never know when it’s

never ends well though.

into view. Mom and Dad won’t save me, even if I’m being slaughtered in the front

disrespects the beta’s home.

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

just need to get inside.

the car door,

in my grip as I

front door.

Almost there. Almost-

2 Ava: Invitation

can smell wet

around, keys clenched between white

curled back in a snarl. Saliva drips from dagger–like fangs. His russet fur tells me

Todd.

loves to torment me and

he just watches as I grab the door

reprieve; I’ll take

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

Damn it.

“Ava. Come here.“/

my

2 Ava: Invitation

stomach.

me; as long as it isn’t in his eyesight, where he has to

favorite armchair, his expression stoic as always. Mom

can’t remember the last time we

my head as I enter the room,

wants to see is my submission. Words are a

say a word as I cradle my wrist; they’re

Lunar Gala this year. I trust you have enough money from your… job to be properly dressed for the occasion. Be grateful that our

shock, and

2. Ava: Invitation

105

my limbs, shoving past all that anxiety to settle straight into my brain.

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

a big deal, encompassing the Northwestern Territories.

hoping to find their fated

politics–but in reality, the Lunar Gala is more of a matchmaking ball. Alliances are made when high–ranking shifters mate

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 other packs are

having to attend is a palpable force in the room, and I risk a quick glance upward. He’s looking over my head, not even straight at me, like I’m

2 Ava: Invitation

beneath his notice.

of course there’s nothing. Just me. “Phoenix and Jessa will be there, so make sure to

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