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.

tense silence. “What happened to your daughter’s

his throat, his

“She has become willful in her

discipline to correct such behavior.”

sinister look come over Alpha Renard’s features. “I will take care of it,” he says, his tone sending an

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

Ava Homecoming

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

the words

I can sense the challenge in his question.

the Aspen pack had me. But how much do they

everything, and

if they don’t, and

that be worse?

So I lie.

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

of deception? Or

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

Ava: Homecoming (III)

keep from gagging, chewing in a slow and methodical fashion.

I’m eating, maybe he won’t

But he does.

the alpha forced you 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

grips 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. I shake my head, desperate to deny his claims. “I’ve never been given

fist on the table, the

the force. I flinch, shrinking back in

seat.

to me, girl,” he snarls, his eyes flashing with barely contained rage. “We know all

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Homecoming (III)

through the tension, dripping with

Blackwood Pack, Ava.”

twisted applications of the truth are not unfamiliar to me. Anger surges through my veins, momentarily overpowering my

myself at him, but you also just said Clayton forcefully mated me. So which

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