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.

voice breaks the tense silence. “What happened

father clears his throat,

become willful in her time

discipline to

Alpha Renard’s features. “I will take care of it,” he says, his tone sending an avalanche of chill through me.

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

Homecoming

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

throat feels tight, the

I can sense the challenge in his

pack had me. But how much

they know everything, and I lie, the consequences…

and I tell

that be worse?

So I lie.

of my wounds after that as an apology.” Mostly truth, but

give off a scent of deception? Or is it because

stomach curdles, and I stab at a piece of buttery roasted potato, shoving

Homecoming

to keep from gagging, chewing in a

he won’t bother me.

But he does.

you can regain your freedom. We are all family here. You can talk to us.” Alpha Renard’s words

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.

on

force. I flinch, shrinking back in my

seat.

all about your heat. How you threw yourself at

17:41

4417

Homecoming

dripping with disgust. “You’re an embarrassment to the

Blackwood Pack, Ava.”

truth are not unfamiliar to me.

threw myself at him, but you also just said Clayton forcefully mated me. So which is it? What’s the truth?”

he snaps, his voice