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 see the

back as a challenge.

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Ava: Homecoming (VI)

heart stutters at the mention of that

eyes and searing touches flooding my senses. Lucas.

somehow get word to him, would

It’s possible.

enough to

it’s better than

right now,” my father rumbles. “We need

think they’re involved in this somehow? Isn’t it odd that Ava was found there, right after Lucas was seen with her in

strain to hear my father’s response, my hands stilling in the soapy water. They knew about that?

that why they suddenly began looking for me? To use

along well” Dad says

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Ava: Homecoming

card to neutralize Aspen. Once she’s

stomach. There are too many eyes between Blackwood and Westwood to ever reach

isn’t an option. More, they’re planning the mating between me and Alpha Renard.

It’s easy enough to neutralize them as a threat. So keep

***

lounging on the couch the next morning when I venture downstairs. The house is eerily quiet,

doesn’t even glance up from her phone as I approach, her fingers tapping away at the

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64 Ava: Homecoming

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

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 do you want,

want? I want to be free of this suffocating house, this oppressive pack. I want to

don’t know what she’s thinking. Is it possible she, too, worries about Phoenix’s standing

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

narrows, and I can

turning in her head as she tries

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Ava: Homecoming

to talk to me?” she asks, her voice laced with

it feels. “I know we