Tangled

Chapter 60

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.

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60 Ava: Homecoming (II)

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.

I can smell Mom’s perfume before her heels click against the floor. Even without looking, I can imagine the pinched look on her face. “Ava Grey. Your brother spends all this time to find you and bring you home safely, and you can’t even make dinner to repay him?”

I don’t respond, keeping my eyes trained on the flickering TV screen.

go,” she says, ostensibly to the shifters guarding me. I can feel Todd get up from the couch. The absence of his presence is a relief, even with

broad frame filling the doorway. His eyes find me on the couch and his expression darkens.

in front of the

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back to meet

eyes

mine, a storm of emotions swirling in their depths. Anger, disappointment,

tension in the room is palpable, thick enough to choke on. Mom’s cold stare digs into the side of my face, but I refuse to break eye contact with Dad. I won’t

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

expect.

He simply stands there, his gaze locked with mine, as if

says, “Have something delivered. The alpha

has to be hidden deep in my heart. There’s no point in

victory.

the TV. “So good to see you’ve been so

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Homecoming (II)

doing, where I’ve been, am I okay.

I should learn to keep my mouth shut,

come home after their daughter’s been missing, and not a word out of their mouth is

like this for two decades is more than

do

in

say, refusing to call him

father.

degenerate in your absence. I’m letting it pass today because you’ve been

Selene were here, she would have repeated his words in a mocking tone that made me laugh. But she’s not, so I just turn

<

Homecoming

remote

it off.

admonishes, her voice like ice.

person.”

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

neck and

a hand down my body with

as I get,” I say, each word enveloped in wry amusement. “Since I don’t have parents who actually take care of me. I’m the orphan of

comes before I can even register

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Ava: Homecoming (II)

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