Tangled

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

watching.

step back. "You're sorry?" Anger surges through me, hot and bitter, fueling

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

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?"

am hired

Ava From the

tears. "Please, Ava. Think of your pack. So many of us are 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

no intention of helping you or anyone else. from that pack. Not after

twisting into an

into the room, her hackles. raised, teeth bared. She positions

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

changes instantly. She

"We can talk when you've settled in." With that,

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

heart. "An old neighbor," I

316

From the

but I don't hear her. I'm already sinking to my knees, burying my face in Selene's thick

I tremble,

sinking realization that no one, not even our neighbors, would help me Breathe,

it doesn't stop the flood of emotions. Fear, anger, betrayal-they swirl inside me, a maelstrom

Vanessa's gentle voice breaks through the

of my heart, slowing down. Meeting her concerned gaze, I

then adds, "Therapy isn't something to be ashamed of. If you're interested, just talk to me. Everything will be kept be Gratitude wells up inside me, and I manage a shaky smile. "Thank

running my fingers through her soft fur. Her presence is a balm, soothing

From

of my

her voice a gentle caress in my mind. But you handled it

laugh escapes me. "Strength? I'm shaking

fear, Ava. It's facing it head-on, even when