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I always knew they were a little outdated.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

jobs. They’re

his child, looking for a book or having them read while they do their work. It’s a scene I’ve never seen at

home.

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Homecoming

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

what a few months of freedom

you.

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

If they’re worried. How long they’ll stay worried for, and when they’ll give up on

get me wrong…

going to

don’t know how quickly I can do

brain, I don’t know how to get anywhere

on foot, but I can’t shift. They’d catch me within hours. The

a boat, if we weren’t in the middle of the

country.

on the door interrupts

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317

Ava: Homecoming (V)

waiting for a response. Alpha Renard strides in, smiling sweetly,

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

I fight the urge to recoil. “I

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 there, only a sick assumption of possession. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the FɪndNøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to

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

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

discuss?”

toward the couch, his

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Homecoming

have a seat. This might take a while.”

the edge of

#25

in my lap to hide their trembling. Renard settles beside me, entirely too close

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

dalliances.”

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

wonder you were drawn to them, in your confused state. And yet look at the lies they give. Their own