Tangled

64 Ava: Homecoming (VI)

Hot water scalds my hands as I scrub dishes in mindless monotony. Anger. Fear. Despair. They all churn together in a toxic mix that threatens to drown

1. me.

I have to stay strong, stay focused. Alpha Renard has

made his intentions clear.

The plates clatter against each other as I rinse them, the sound almost therapeutic in its familiarity. This is what my life has been reduced to–cleaning up after my family, tiptoeing around their expectations, their rules, their control. A mere shadow in my own home.

Muted voices drift in from the other room, and it’s

impossible not to overhear the tense exchange between Phoenix and my father.

“…even more reports of rogues crossing the border,” Phoenix growls, his voice laced with anger. “We can’t let them encroach on our territory.”

My father’s response is quieter, but no less stern. “Have you confirmed the sightings? This has to be done carefully, or else the Council can intervene.”

64 Ava: Homecoming (VI)

“We can’t afford to be complacent,” Phoenix snaps.

What does the Council have to do with rogues? Every pack has the right to deal with rogues as they wish. My confusion has me straining my ears to hear more.

“Easy, son.” My father’s tone is placating, but there’s an undercurrent of steel beneath it. “Just handle this

discreetly. As long as we’re only touching the rogues, no one can do anything. They’re just learning from our game. As long as there’s no evidence, the Council can’t

touch us.”

“That means the Council can’t touch them, either,” Phoenix growls.

“All in due time. We just have to wait a little longer, and everything will be set.”

“It would have been better if Jessa had managed to stay there.”

“She didn’t, so there’s little point in worrying about it.”

I can practically

lips. “Westwood sent her back as a

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Homecoming (VI)

at the mention

eyes and searing touches flooding

somehow get word to

It’s possible.

But are his apologies enough to put

better than

my father rumbles. “We need to

involved

to hear my father’s response, my hands stilling in

suddenly began looking for me?

get along well”

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Ava: Homecoming

us. She’s our card to neutralize Aspen. Once she’s mated to

knot forms in my stomach. There are too many eyes between

Clayton isn’t an option. More, they’re planning the mating

is our pack, we can argue that Aspen kidnapped her. It’s easy enough to neutralize them

***

couch the next morning when I venture downstairs. The house is eerily

her phone as I approach, her fingers tapping away at the

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Ava:

the couch near her, careful to maintain a respectful distance. “Hey, Jess,” I venture, my voice sounding too loud

doesn’t respond immediately, and for a moment, I wonder if she even heard me. But then, with a sigh, she lowers her phone and turns to face me, her blue eyes. assessing. “Fine,” she says, her tone clipped. “What

question catches me off guard, and I blink, trying to formulate a response. What do I want? I want to be free of this suffocating house, this oppressive pack. I want to

say any of that, not to Jessa. Not when I don’t know what she’s thinking. Is it possible she, too, worries about Phoenix’s standing

shrug, aiming for nonchalance. “Nothing, really. Just wanted to chat, I guess. It’s been a while since we’ve had a chance to talk, just the two

gaze narrows, and I can

in her head as she

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Homecoming (VI))

to me?” she asks, her voice

a smile, hoping it doesn’t look as strained as it feels. “I know we haven’t always seen