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I always knew they were a little outdated.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

have jobs. They’re stuck

in with his child, looking for a

home.

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Homecoming

at Beaniverse, yes–but I don’t think I ever

a few months of

you.

Mrs. Elkins, and Carlos, and Franklin. Of Clayton and Ivy. Of

wonder if they’re still thinking about me. If they’re worried. How long they’ll stay worried for, and when they’ll

get me wrong…

to

just don’t know how quickly I can do

wrack my brain, I don’t know how

me within hours. The only way to escape is with a

if we weren’t in

country.

on the door interrupts my pacing, and

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Homecoming (V)

for a response. Alpha Renard strides in, smiling sweetly, but the

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

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

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 of novels early and

my arm. “I wanted to discuss a few things with you, now that

scheme he has in store. “What did

discuss?”

couch, his grip/firm enough that

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4/7

Ava: Homecoming

“Please, have a seat. This might

I perch on the edge

#25

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

conundrum. You have no direction, no purpose. These

dalliances.”

pounds in my ears, but I keep my expression blank, giving him

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