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

12:43

<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I always knew they were a little outdated.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

They’re

often see a father come in with his child, looking for a book or having them read while they do their

home.

217

Ava: Homecoming

yes–but I don’t think I ever really noticed it

months of freedom will

you.

Mrs. Elkins, and Carlos, and

How long they’ll stay worried for, and when

me

going to

don’t know how quickly I can

matter how much I wrack my brain, I don’t know how to

They’d catch me within hours.

we weren’t in the middle of the

country.

on the door interrupts

12:43

317

Ava: Homecoming (V)

the door opens without waiting for a response. Alpha

his face too smarmy, his voice like poison to the little

I fight the urge to recoil. “I trust you’re settling back in comfortably?”

keeping my expression neutral. Renard’s gaze rakes over me, and I resist the 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

to discuss a few things with you, now that

whatever twisted scheme he has in store. “What did

discuss?”

and he guides me toward the couch,

12.43

4/7

Homecoming

scene. “Please, have a seat.

the edge

#25

me, entirely too close for my liking,

purpose. These are all things you need to get your

dalliances.”

my expression blank, giving him no reaction to latch onto. Renard studies me for a moment, then continues.

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. Their own alpha took advantage of you in