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I always knew they were a little outdated.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

don’t have jobs. They’re stuck at the mercy of their mates, if their mate has any

The Novel Grind, I would often see a father come in with his child, looking for a book or having them read while they do

home.

217

Homecoming

I don’t think I ever really

months of

you.

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

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

get me wrong…

going to escape.

don’t know how quickly I can do

I don’t know how

catch me within hours. The only way to escape is with a car. Or a bus ticket.

if we

country.

the door interrupts my

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317

Ava: Homecoming (V)

opens without waiting for a response. Alpha Renard strides

wrong–his eyes too calculating, his face too smarmy, his voice like poison to the little happiness I’ve

to touch my arm. I fight the urge to recoil. “I trust you’re settling back in

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 access chapters

discuss a few things

myself for whatever twisted scheme he has in store.

discuss?”

me toward the couch, his grip/firm enough that

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4/7

Homecoming (V)

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

I perch on the edge of the

#25

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

direction, no purpose. These are all things you need to get your mind off your lack of a wolf.” He clicks his

dalliances.”

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

them, in your confused state. And yet look at the lies they give. Their own alpha