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I always knew they were a little outdated.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.

me, of

fashion. Married she–wolves don’t go out much, and don’t have jobs. They’re stuck at the mercy of their mates, if

man alone with his child. At The Novel Grind, I would often see a father come in with his child,

home.

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Homecoming

think

few months of freedom will do

you.

think of Mrs. Elkins, and Carlos, and Franklin. Of Clayton

thinking about me. If they’re worried. How long they’ll

me

to

don’t know how quickly I can do it.

my brain, I don’t know how to get

foot, but I can’t shift. They’d catch me within hours. The only way to escape is with a car. Or a bus

boat, if we weren’t in the middle

country.

knock on the door interrupts my pacing, and

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Homecoming (V)

opens without waiting for a response. Alpha Renard strides

his face too smarmy, his voice like poison to the little happiness I’ve managed

arm. I fight the urge

instinct to cover myself, even though I’m fully dressed. There’s something predatory 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

discuss a few things with you, now that you’ve had some time to

scheme he has in store.

discuss?”

the couch, his

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Homecoming

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

on the edge of the cushions, my

#25

my lap to hide their trembling. Renard settles beside me, entirely too close for my liking, but I force myself

age, unmated and unshifted–it’s quite the conundrum. You have no direction, no purpose. These are all

dalliances.”

giving him no reaction to latch onto. Renard studies me for

willingness to consort with humans, to let their females run wild–it’s no wonder you were drawn to them, in your confused state. And yet look at the lies they give.