Tangled

Chapter 67

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

1/7

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

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

<

Their Plans

the guise of attending college. His plan was for her to mate with the beta or another high–ranking shifter in the pack, but Westwood sent her back home,

in my seat. Was this before or after Lucas suddenly decided to

actions feel somehow tainted. Was it all

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

proven is that they’re being attacked by

between him and

sense.

we have rogues encroaching on

no clear evidence of a war brewing between each pack.” His

12:46

3/7

Ava: Their

has been going on for a year or more, and

to avoid any large–scale

understand, even as I’m

increased since the Lunar

body

that you were with him in the garden, and he left in

Ava?”

my head. “Nothing. I didn’t know who he was, and he was flirting with me. Once he found out my name, he left.” I hide the rest of the truth. There are things none of these

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 needed to find you and see what your connection

was.”

the sudden

Their Plans (1)

in the Novel Grind watching me must

in

disappeared, the alpha told us to leave you alone, that searching for you would make

roll my eyes

a keen interest in bringing you back. I was in charge of it all. I even went to find your friend at your little job,

Go, Lisa!

plans. Are you sure you haven’t let anything

shake my head again, in firm

5/7

Ava: Their Plans (1)

I was, he turned into

whatsoever.

able to smell it

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255