Tangled

158

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.

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

watching.

hot and bitter, fueling my words. "Why are you even saying

grabs at my arm again. "We

Ah. She needs something.

No wonder she's here.

miniscule, that was hopeful her apology was genuine. It's dead now, like so many other little parts of "How did you know I was here?" I step back,

shakes her head. "I am hired

Ava From

us are separated now. Taken from our mates. Forced to cut ties with

intention of helping you or anyone else. from that pack. Not

contorts, her features twisting into an ugly mask

room, her hackles. raised, teeth bared. She positions herself between Margot and me, a living

might actually shift and attack. My heart pounds against my ribs, adrenaline surging

She straightens, smoothing her expression

her tone clipped. "We can talk when you've settled in." With that, she turns and

her go, then turns to me, curiosity etched on her face.

to steady my racing heart. "An old neighbor," I manage, my voice shaking slightly. "From...

316

From

She starts to say something, but I don't hear her. I'm already sinking to my knees, burying my face in

me as I tremble, overwhelmed by the unexpected confrontation

of my packmates. The pain of their blows, both physical and emotional. The sinking realization that no one, not even our neighbors, would help

but it doesn't stop the flood of emotions. Fear, anger, betrayal-they swirl

gentle voice breaks through the chaos. "Are

slowing down. Meeting her

eyes. "I'll be in the other room if you need me." She pauses, then adds, "Therapy isn't something to be ashamed of. If you're interested, just talk

attention back to Selene, running my fingers

From the

of my

gentle caress

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

Ava. It's facing it head-on, even when it terrifies you. And that's exactly what