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 safe.

heart hurts, even around the walls I’ve built to

<

Ava: Their Plans (1)

Westwood territory, under the guise of attending college. His plan was for her to mate with the beta or

Was this before or after

tainted. Was it all pack

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

is that they’re being attacked by rogue

between him

sense.

have rogues encroaching on

Council’s kept their paws off for now as there is no clear evidence of a war brewing between each pack.” His brown eyes, cold like Dad’s, bore

12:46

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Their

has been going on for a year or more, and we

large–scale conflicts between either packs.”

as I’m confused he’s telling

has increased since

entire body stiffens.

you were with him in the garden, and he left in anger. What did you

Ava?”

was flirting with me. Once he found out my name, he left.” I hide the rest of the truth.

on you. Once we heard that, we put every pack in the Northwestern Territories on

was.”

explains the sudden shifter presence in

Ava Their Plans (1)

must have been out searching. The ones in the Novel Grind watching me must have been trying to see if I was masking my scent–either

have happened in the garden,

leave you alone, that searching for you

family didn’t look for me. I want to roll my eyes at the blatant gaslighting, but I just

the Westwood alpha after he kicked Jessa out of the territory, things changed, and Alpha Renard developed a keen interest in

Go, Lisa!

know about our plans. Are you sure you haven’t let anything slip?” Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FindNøvᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ

head again, in firm denial.

5/7

Ava: Their

never got a chance. The moment he realized who I was, he turned into

whatsoever.

to smell it on me,