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.

voice breaks the tense silence. “What happened to your daughter’s face?”

throat,

has become willful in her

requires discipline to

shiver runs down my spine at his words. I risk a glance, finding a sinister look come over Alpha Renard’s features. “I

eyes boring into mine with an intensity that makes me want to

Homecoming

laced with a dark edge. “Why

feels tight, the words caught like lead

tongue. I can sense the challenge in his question.

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

know everything, and I lie, the consequences…

if they don’t, and I tell them

that be worse?

So I lie.

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

give off a scent of deception? Or is it

stomach curdles, and I stab at a piece of buttery

Homecoming

to keep from gagging, chewing in a slow

maybe he won’t

But he does.

we know you’re an omega, and the alpha forced you into a mating. We will fight back so you can regain your freedom. We are all family here. You

my heart, squeezing the air from my lungs. He’d wanted to breed me before I ever left the pack. If they decide I’m a true omega, like Clayton did, I’ll never be able to escape that fate.

on the

flinch, shrinking back

seat.

barely contained rage. “We know all about your

17:41

4417

Ava: Homecoming (III)

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

Blackwood Pack, Ava.”

of the truth are not unfamiliar to me. Anger surges through my veins,

I say, my voice trembling despite my efforts to keep it steady. “You’re saying I threw myself

he snaps, his voice low and dangerous. “You forget your