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.

just wants to keep his position safe.

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

<

Ava: Their Plans

sent Jessa to the Westwood territory, under 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, closing the boundary to all shifters

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

of his actions feel somehow tainted.

been accusing us of attacking their wolves at the border, but

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

the conversation between

sense.

we have rogues encroaching on our side,

for now as there is no clear evidence of a war brewing between each pack.” His brown

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Ava: Their

for a

avoid any large–scale

I understand, even as

aggressiveness has increased since the Lunar

entire body

were with him in the garden,

Ava?”

out my name, he left.” I hide the rest of the truth. There are things none of

on you. Once we heard

was.”

sudden shifter

67 Ava Their Plans (1)

the Novel Grind watching me must have been trying to see if I was masking my scent–either that, or

have happened in the

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

me. I want to roll my eyes at the blatant gaslighting, but I just keep listening, wanting to know

Alpha Renard developed a keen interest in bringing you back. I was in charge of it all. I even went to find your friend

Go, Lisa!

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

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

5/7

Their

a chance. The moment he realized who I was, he turned into a different person.” That much is truth, without

whatsoever.

be able to smell it on me,