Tangled

61 Ava: Homecoming (III)

Alpha Renard is someone I have had few encounters with. He’s come by the house many times through my life, but my parents always sent me to my room, not wanting to parade their shame in front of him.

Today is different.

Today, he sits across from me at the dinner table as my mother serves him, apologizing for the dinner- something Phoenix had brought home from a

restaurant in town. Everyone’s gaze seems to center

on me.

I can tell Phoenix and Dad are furious with me, but

there’s little point in looking in their direction. There’s no point ruining what tiny appetite I have.

Alpha Renard is an imposing figure, towering well over six feet with a muscular build that speaks of years of combat training. His brown hair is neatly trimmed and his face shaved; I don’t think I’ve ever seen him in a state of disarray. He likes to show off the deep scars.

clawed across his face.

Shifters don’t scar easily, but it isn’t impossible.

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17

61 Ava: Homecoming (III)

Like all alphas, he has an intimidating presence and a confident air that demands respect. But his eyes hold a cruel glint that has me cringing from eye contact.

He won’t stop staring at me, even as he talks with the

others.

I keep my gaze fixed on the plate in front of me. Alpha Renard’s intense stare burns into my face, making my skin prickle with unease. His eyes linger on the split in my lip, the abnormal color across my cheeks. They still throb.

gruff voice breaks the tense silence. “What happened to your daughter’s

father clears his throat,

“She has become willful in

pack. It requires discipline

over Alpha Renard’s features. “I will take care of it,” he says, his tone sending an avalanche of chill through

back to me, his eyes boring into mine with an

Ava Homecoming (

says, his voice laced with a dark edge. “Why has

feels tight, the words

can sense

had me. But how much do they

they know everything, and

and I tell them

that be worse?

So I lie.

got injured. They took care of my wounds after that as an apology.” Mostly truth, but I can see by the twitch in Alpha Renard’s jaw that he knows

of deception? Or is it because

a piece of buttery roasted potato, shoving it into my mouth. It

Homecoming

have to fight to keep from gagging, chewing in a slow and

I’m eating, maybe he won’t bother

But he does.

into a mating. We will fight back so you can regain your freedom. We are all family here. You can talk to us.” Alpha Renard’s words are couched in a silken promise

true omega, like Clayton did, I’ll never be able to escape that fate. I shake

fist on the table, the

flinch, shrinking

seat.

all about your heat. How you threw yourself at the

17:41

4417

Ava: Homecoming

father’s voice cuts through the tension, dripping with disgust. “You’re an embarrassment to

Blackwood Pack, Ava.”

the truth are not unfamiliar to me. Anger surges through

it steady. “You’re saying I threw myself at him, but you also just said Clayton forcefully

eyes narrow, his jaw clenching. “Watch your tone, girl,” he snaps, his voice low and dangerous. “You forget