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

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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.

to keep his position safe.

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

<

Their Plans

beta or

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

his actions feel somehow tainted. Was it all pack politics?

moment to process as he continues, “Westwood’s been accusing us of attacking their

is that they’re being attacked by

Now the conversation between him and

sense.

rogues encroaching

clear evidence of a war brewing between each pack.” His brown eyes,

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Ava: Their Plans (1)

been going on for a

managed to avoid any large–scale conflicts

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

aggressiveness has increased since

body stiffens.

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

Ava?”

who he was, and he was flirting with me. Once he found out my name, he left.” I

“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

was.”

the sudden shifter presence

Their Plans (1)

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

must have happened in the garden,

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

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

interaction with the Westwood alpha after he kicked Jessa out of the territory, things changed, and Alpha Renard developed a keen interest in bringing you back. I was in charge

Go, Lisa!

consorted with our enemies, Ava. He thinks they know about our plans. Are you sure you haven’t let anything slip?” Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FindNøvᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ

in firm

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Ava: Their Plans (1)

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

whatsoever.

must be able to smell it on me, because he