Tangled

63 Ava: Homecoming (V)

The next few days are agonizing.

1

There are shifters outside my house every hour of the

day.

Mom and Dad have disappeared, doing… Honestly, I don’t know what they’re doing.

Phoenix was never around much to begin with, so I’m not surprised that I don’t see him.

It occurs to me that I haven’t seen Jessa even once

since I’ve been home, but, again, not really surprised. It

isn’t like we were ever close.

So I pace in my childhood home, trapped, with no idea what’s coming next, building nightmare after

nightmare of assumptions in my mind. Sometimes I catch Selene’s show on TV and watch that. Other times I watch the news, a habit I’ve gotten used to since working at The Novel Grind. Mrs. Elkins often had it on in the background.

It’s amazing how sheltered I was from the human world, even when living in it. I see why Dad never let

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<63 Ava: Homecoming (V)

me watch the news; it’s enlightening to see how things. are outside of the views of your pack.

I always knew they were a little outdated. After being in the Aspen territory, I’ve learned that my family pack is barely out of the Dark Ages. Now that my eyes have been opened, there are so many details I can pick out that are just wrong.

The fact that I had a phone at all was a miracle–of course, I bought it with my own money.

Jessa begged Dad for one when she was twenty–one, and he relented. But so many women in the pack don’t have a cell phone at all. My dad is sometimes

considered a little too lenient on his women.

for me, of course.

the fashion. Married she–wolves don’t go out much, and don’t have jobs. They’re

The Novel Grind, I would often see a father come in with his child, looking for a book or having them read while they do their work. It’s a scene

home.

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Ava: Homecoming

think I ever really noticed it then.

few months of freedom will do

you.

and Franklin. Of Clayton and Ivy.

me. If they’re worried. How long they’ll stay worried for, and when they’ll

get me

to escape.

quickly I can do

wrack my brain, I

hours. The only way to escape is with a car.

a boat, if we

country.

on the door interrupts my pacing, and I

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Ava: Homecoming (V)

a response. Alpha Renard strides in, smiling sweetly,

like poison to

he croons, reaching out to touch my arm. I fight the urge to recoil. “I trust

in the way he looks at me that makes my skin crawl. There’s no desire there, only a sick assumption of possession. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the FɪndNøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters

discuss a few things

he has in store. “What did you want to

discuss?”

and he guides me toward the couch, his grip/firm enough that I can’t pull

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Ava: Homecoming

causing a scene. “Please, have a seat. This might

the edge of the cushions,

#25

Renard settles beside me, entirely too close for my liking, but I force myself to remain still.

say the least. A woman of your age, unmated and unshifted–it’s quite the conundrum. You have no direction, no purpose. These are all things you need to get your mind off your lack of

dalliances.”

heart pounds in my ears, but I keep my expression blank, giving him no reaction to latch onto. Renard studies me for a moment, then

Pack is known for their unorthodox views. Their willingness to consort with humans, to let their females run wild–it’s no wonder you were drawn to them, in