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.

gruff voice breaks the tense silence. “What

clears his throat, his voice

has become willful

pack. It requires discipline

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

back to me, his eyes boring into mine with an intensity

Homecoming (

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

the

on my tongue. I can sense the challenge

Aspen pack had me. But how much

everything, and I lie, the

if they don’t, and I

that be worse?

So I lie.

happened to be in a car with some 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

of deception? Or is it because

I stab at a piece of buttery roasted potato, shoving it

Homecoming

keep from gagging, chewing in a

maybe he

But he does.

back so you can regain your freedom. We are

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

on the table,

the force. I flinch, shrinking back in my

seat.

snarls, his eyes flashing with barely contained rage. “We know all about your heat. How you threw yourself

17:41

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Homecoming

through the tension, dripping with disgust. “You’re

Blackwood Pack, Ava.”

applications of the truth are not unfamiliar to me. Anger surges

say, my voice trembling despite my efforts to keep it steady. “You’re saying I threw myself at him, but you also just said Clayton forcefully mated me. So which is it? What’s the truth?”

his jaw clenching. “Watch your tone, girl,” he snaps, his voice