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.

12:43

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

throat,

has become willful in her

the pack. It requires discipline to

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

mine with an intensity that makes me want

Homecoming

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

feels tight, the words caught like

sense the

me. But how much do they

everything, and I lie, the consequences…

don’t, and I tell them

that be worse?

So I lie.

chasing, and got injured. They took care of my wounds after that as an apology.” Mostly truth, but I can see

deception? Or is it because

buttery roasted potato,

Homecoming

fight to keep from gagging, chewing in

maybe he

But he does.

into a mating. We will fight back so you can regain your freedom. We are all family here. You can

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,

slams his giant fist on the table,

force. I flinch, shrinking back

seat.

know all about your heat. How you threw yourself at the Aspen

17:41

4417

Homecoming

dripping with disgust. “You’re

Blackwood Pack, Ava.”

twisted applications of the truth are not unfamiliar to me.

I threw myself at him, but you also just said Clayton forcefully mated

your tone, girl,” he snaps, his voice low and dangerous. “You