Tangled

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158

158 Ava: From the Past

"Ava, is that you?"

The familiar rasp has me frozen, my heart lurching into my throat. Slowly, I turn around, coming face-to-face with a ghost from my

past.

Our neighbor. Margot Mitchell.

Her once vibrant auburn hair is streaked with silver, her face a

roadmap of wrinkles and scars. It's her eyes that haunt me. Piercing green eyes that see everything and do nothing.

"Margot," I greet, my voice tight with caution. "What are you doing

here?"

She limps

toward me, her gait uneven from some injury she incurred long before I was born. I remember asking about it once, and my mother slapped the back of my head, admonishing me for my rudeness. "Oh, Ava. I'm

I tense as she reaches out, half-expecting her to grab me, to drag me back to the hellscape I escaped. But she merely places a hand on my arm, her touch feather-light.

"I'm sorry," she whispers, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I'm so sorry for everything. For not intervening when..." She trails off, her gaze flickering to the ground.

The shame she tries to portray leaves me feeling dirty. Unclean from her mere presence.

Memories flash through my mind, unbidden. Margot's face in the

$2.00

150 As from the Pant

window, watching as I was taunted and beaten, even by her own son. Listening at the front door as my parents berated me, their voices carrying through the window. Her figure rushing inside. when I tried beggi I was thirteen.

He broke my wrist.

Hours. Until my parents, tired of my whining, finally

always watching. Never

sorry?" Anger surges through me, hot and bitter, fueling my words. "Why are you

help you. Please." She grabs at my arm again. "We need you to

Ah. She needs something.

No wonder she's here.

my stomach churns. There's a tiny part of me, almost miniscule, that was hopeful her apology was genuine. It's dead now, like so many other little parts of "How did

"I am hired to clean

Ava From the

separated now. Taken from our mates. Forced to cut ties with the alpha. Westwood is tearing us apart. They sh "No." My voice is cold as I take

you or anyone else. from that pack. Not after

her features twisting into an ugly

off. Selene stalks into the room, her hackles. raised, teeth bared. She

growl, her eyes flashing amber. For a moment, I think she might actually shift and attack. My heart pounds against my ribs, adrenaline surging

changes instantly. She straightens, smoothing her

you've settled in." With that, she turns and flees the room,

turns to me, curiosity etched on her face. "Who was

steady my racing heart. "An

316

From

Vanessa's eyes, followed by sympathy. She starts to say something, but I don't hear

softly, nuzzling against me as I tremble, overwhelmed by the unexpected confrontation with

The pain of their blows, both physical and emotional. The sinking realization

know she's right, but it doesn't stop the flood of emotions. Fear,

through

few beats of my heart, slowing down. Meeting her concerned gaze, I give the

then adds, "Therapy isn't something to be ashamed of. If you're interested, just talk to me. Everything will be kept be

running my fingers

From

of my

a gentle

bitter laugh escapes me. "Strength? I'm shaking like

facing it head-on, even when it terrifies you. And that's