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.

breaks the tense silence. “What happened

clears his throat,

willful

requires discipline to correct

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

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

Homecoming (

he says, his voice laced with a dark edge.

throat feels tight, the words caught like

my tongue. I can sense the

me. But how

know everything, and I lie, the

don’t, and I tell them

that be worse?

So I lie.

They took care of my wounds

I give off a scent of deception?

of buttery roasted potato, shoving it into my

Ava: Homecoming

gagging, chewing in a

eating, maybe he won’t

But he does.

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

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 a pack designation.

his giant fist on

from the force. I flinch, shrinking back in my

seat.

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

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Homecoming (III)

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

Blackwood Pack, Ava.”

truth are not unfamiliar to me. Anger surges through my veins, momentarily overpowering my

to keep it steady. “You’re saying I threw myself at him, but

your tone, girl,” he snaps, his voice low