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I always knew they were a little outdated.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.

me, of course.

They’re

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 I’ve never seen

home.

217

Homecoming (V)

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

amazing what a few months of freedom will

you.

Carlos, and Franklin.

worried. How long they’ll stay

me

to escape.

don’t know how quickly I

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

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

we weren’t in the middle of the

country.

on the door interrupts my pacing, and I

12:43

317

Homecoming

the door opens without waiting for a response. Alpha Renard strides in, smiling sweetly, but the

voice like poison to the little happiness I’ve managed to store within my soul.

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

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

squeezing my arm. “I wanted to discuss a few things with you, now that you’ve had some time to readjust.”

whatever twisted scheme he has in store. “What did you want to

discuss?”

me toward the couch, his grip/firm

12.43

4/7

Ava: Homecoming

scene. “Please, have a seat. This might take a while.”

I perch on the edge of the cushions,

#25

settles beside me, entirely

“your situation is unique, to 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

dalliances.”

my ears, but I keep my expression blank, giving him no reaction to latch onto. Renard studies

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.