Tangled

50 Ava: The Grey Girl

“Good morning,” Clayton says with a smile, and I step back to let him into the apartment. He pauses for just a moment when he sees Selene, and I wait for the questions–but he doesn’t ask any.

He’s polite like that.

Honestly, outside of my paranoia and not wanting to rely on him, he seems like a pretty great guy.

Clayton strides into the kitchen like he owns it–which, I mean, he does–while I stand around feeling awkward and out of place in this fancy apartment. He seems so at home here, like he belongs.

“Everything okay with the phone?” he calls out from the kitchen. “You didn’t text me this morning.”

“Oh, uh, no issues,” I reply, glancing down at the sleek new device on the end table. “I just woke up a little while ago and haven’t set it up yet.” S~ᴇaʀᴄh the (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

There’s a brief pause, and then the sound of a pot clattering onto the stove. “Have you eaten?”

I shake my head, even though he can’t see me. “No,

15:01 =

1/8

50 Ava: The Grey Girl

not yet.”

“Well, go relax then. I’ll whip up some breakfast.”

Before I can protest, he emerges from the kitchen, those intense green eyes fixing me with a look that brooks no argument. Grasping my shoulders, he turns me towards the plush couch and gives me a gentle nudge in that direction.

“Go on, I’ve got this.”

I open my mouth to argue, but one glance at his resolute expression has me snapping it shut again. Instead, I just nod and make my way over to the couch, sinking into the soft cushions with a sigh.

Selene, ever my loyal companion, leans against me as she focuses on her show, resting her head on my lap. I absently run my fingers through her soft fur, trying to ignore the sounds of Clayton puttering around in the kitchen.

1

to being the one doing all the work, all the cooking and cleaning. Having someone

But at the

The

care of, instead of being the one doing all the taking care. It’s just breakfast, but he just came

an alpha who thinks he’s

trying to dislodge those thoughts. I can’t afford to get too comfortable here, too used to having Clayton around. This isn’t permanent, no matter how

the smell

maybe I can let him take care of me for just a little while longer.

a sin to get a little

***

with Clayton is comfortable.

doesn’t try to touch me. No more kisses on the forehead. He’s just there, polite

15:01 ‘

38

The

taken care

move. Of course, she doesn’t have anything against Clayton in the first place. She

snide remarks she throws in about

cup of creamer with a

of o

I can see Clayton giving my drink a little side–eye, but I’m used to

a lot of flavor to mask its

rings. I try to settle into my role as a couch potato, but my ears can’t help picking up

letting the sugary taste linger on my tongue as I try to ignore the snippets of

through my

15.01

Ava: The

hard to tune out, even with the mindless chatter of the television providing

Blackwood

words send a shiver down my spine, and I clutch my mug a little tighter,

demands, but they’re

heart sinks as the implications of

sink in.

a war coming

at the center of it all…”

liquid spills all over

girl. Me?