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.”

and I can practically

of his lips. “Westwood sent her back as a challenge.

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Ava: Homecoming (VI)

the mention of that name,

of intense golden eyes and searing touches flooding my

get word to him, would

It’s possible.

me. But are his apologies enough to

better than relying on

father rumbles. “We need to

and then Phoenix speaks again, his voice low and dangerous. “What about the Aspen Pack? You don’t think they’re involved in this somehow? Isn’t it odd that Ava

and I strain to hear my father’s response, my hands stilling in the soapy water. They knew

looking for me? To

and Aspen get along well” Dad says grimly.

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Ava: Homecoming (VI)

need to keep Ava with us. She’s our card to neutralize Aspen. Once she’s mated to the alpha,

stomach. There are too many eyes between Blackwood

they’re planning the mating

argue that Aspen kidnapped her. It’s easy enough to neutralize them as a threat. So

***

the couch the next morning when I venture downstairs. The house is eerily quiet, devoid of

her phone as I approach, her fingers tapping away at the screen with a single–minded focus. I hesitate, unsure

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Ava: Homecoming (VI)

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

if she even heard me. But then, with a sigh, she lowers her phone and turns to face me, her blue eyes.

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 find my way back to the life I’ve built for myself, to the

can’t 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 in the pack?

to chat, I guess. It’s been a while since we’ve had a chance to talk, just the two of

and I can practically see the

turning in her head as she tries to decipher

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Ava: Homecoming (VI))

to talk to me?” she asks, her

as strained as it feels. “I know we haven’t always seen eye to