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I always knew they were a little outdated.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 at all.

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

home.

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Ava: Homecoming

don’t think I ever really

months of

you.

and Carlos, and Franklin. Of Clayton

worried. How long they’ll stay

me wrong…

going to escape.

know how quickly I can do it.

much I wrack my brain, I don’t know

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

a boat, if we weren’t in the middle

country.

knock on the door interrupts my pacing, and I

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Ava: Homecoming (V)

the door opens without waiting for a response. Alpha Renard

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

I fight the urge

but I manage a nod, 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 there, only a sick assumption of possession. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the

discuss a few things with you, now that

myself for whatever twisted scheme he

discuss?”

smile widens, and he guides me toward the couch, his grip/firm enough that I can’t

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4/7

Homecoming

a seat. This might take

edge of the cushions, my

#25

trembling. Renard settles beside me, entirely too close for

the conundrum. You have no direction, no purpose. These are all things you need to

dalliances.”

expression blank, giving him no

drawn to them, in your confused state. And yet look at the lies they