Tangled

67 Ava: Their Plans (I)

Every day that passes is a slight uptick in my stress level. Mom and Dad are never home, busy with something. I haven’t seen Phoenix since the day we spoke in the kitchen. And Jessa has been less than receptive over talking about future plans with me.

The fragile alliance feels like it’s crackling away beneath my fingers, like old paper that disintegrates

with the faintest touch.

So when Phoenix comes by without Jessa around, dismissing my guards, my heart jumps into my throat. It’s hard to swallow the water I’d just sipped out of one of mom’s coffee mugs.

“Hi.”

“Hey.” Phoenix looks me over, rubbing his left brow in a mannerism that’s new to me. “They’re planning the mating ceremony for next week. Mom’s in charge.”

“Oh.”

What else is there to say? We all knew it was coming.

It’s odd how peace flows through me at the

12:40

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67 Ava: Their Plans (1)

announcement. It’s like my body understands that I’m either going to escape or die trying, because there’s no way in hell I’ll ever let Alpha Renard near me like that.

“Have they sent you to the healer yet?”

I shake my head. “I haven’t heard a word about any of

this.”

Phoenix sits at the kitchen table, so I sit across from him, setting my glass of water aside. The tightness in my throat makes it too hard to swallow. “How much do you know about the pack situation, Ava?”

My lips quirk up into a mocking smile. “How often do you think people inform me about anything, Phoenix?”

He nods slightly, acknowledging my words but otherwise unmoved by them. It’s just a clear indicator that he’s only here for his own interests. Despite everything, he’s not here to save his sister. He’s not here to care about me, or what happens to me.

keep his position

even around the walls I’ve built to keep it safe.

<

Their

her to mate with the beta or another high–ranking shifter in the pack,

after

actions feel somehow tainted. Was it

to process as he continues, “Westwood’s been accusing us of attacking their wolves at the border,

is that they’re being attacked by rogue wolves.”

the conversation between him and

sense.

encroaching on our side,

for now as there is no clear evidence of a war brewing

12:46

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Their Plans (1)

has been going on for a year or

large–scale conflicts between either

I understand, even as I’m confused he’s telling me all

has increased since the Lunar Gala.

body stiffens.

him in the garden, and he left in anger.

Ava?”

found out my name, he left.” I hide the

a sigh. “We had reports that Lucas had been sniffing around, trying to get information on you. Once we heard that, we put every pack in the Northwestern Territories on alert for you. We

was.”

the sudden shifter presence

Their Plans (1)

out searching. The ones in the Novel Grind watching me must have been trying

have happened in the garden, Ava.

the alpha told us to leave you alone, that searching for you would make us look weak.”

roll my eyes at the blatant gaslighting, but I just keep listening, wanting to

out of the territory, things changed, and Alpha Renard developed a keen interest in bringing you back. I was in charge of

Go, Lisa!

He thinks they know about our plans. Are you sure you haven’t let anything slip?” Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ

head again, in firm denial. “I didn’t tell him

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Ava: Their Plans (1)

The moment he realized who I was, he turned into a different person.” That much is

whatsoever.

able to smell