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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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.

silence. “What happened to your

his throat, his voice strained with

become willful

pack. It requires discipline to correct

shiver runs down my spine at his words. I risk a glance, finding a sinister look come over Alpha Renard’s features. “I will take care of it,” he says, his tone

me, his eyes boring into mine

Homecoming (

“So tell me, Ava,” he says, his voice laced with a dark edge. “Why has the Aspen pack taken such an

feels tight, the

tongue. I can sense the challenge

the Aspen pack had me. But how much do they know?

know everything, and I

they don’t, and I tell

that be worse?

So I lie.

rogue shifters they were chasing, and 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 I’m lying.

off a scent of deception? Or is it because he

I stab at a piece of buttery roasted potato, shoving it into my mouth. It tastes like

Ava: Homecoming (III)

to keep from gagging, chewing in a slow and

he won’t

But he does.

back so you can regain your

ever left the pack. If they decide I’m a true omega, like Clayton did, I’ll never be able to escape that fate. I shake my head, desperate to deny his claims. “I’ve never been given a pack designation. I’m not

on the table, the

the force. I flinch, shrinking

seat.

“We know all about your

17:41

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Homecoming

voice cuts through the tension, dripping with

Blackwood Pack, Ava.”

truth are not unfamiliar to me. Anger surges through my veins, momentarily overpowering

steady. “You’re saying I threw myself at him, but you

your tone, girl,” he snaps, his voice