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.

wants to keep his position

the walls I’ve built to keep

<

Ava: Their

plan was for her to mate with the beta or

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

tainted. Was

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

proven is that they’re

between

sense.

rogues encroaching

no clear evidence of a war brewing between

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Ava: Their

going on for a year or

managed to avoid any large–scale conflicts between either

as I’m confused he’s telling me all

since the Lunar Gala. Why?”

entire body stiffens.

garden, and he left in

Ava?”

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

had been sniffing around, trying to get information on you. Once we heard

was.”

sudden shifter presence

67 Ava Their Plans (1)

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

happened in the garden,

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

look for me. I want to roll my eyes

of our scouts let us know about. your 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.

Go, Lisa!

you sure you haven’t let anything slip?” Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FindNøvᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of

firm denial. “I

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Ava: Their Plans

was, he

whatsoever.

smell it