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.

Until my parents, tired of my whining, finally dragged

watching.

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

You have to understand, none of us could help you. Please." She grabs at my arm again.

Ah. She needs something.

No wonder she's here.

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

her head. "I am hired to clean the

Ava From

of us are separated now. Taken from our mates. Forced to cut ties with the alpha. Westwood

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

face contorts, her features twisting into an

the room, her hackles. raised, teeth bared. She positions herself between Margot

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

demeanor changes instantly. She straightens, smoothing her

you again later," she says, her tone clipped. "We can talk when you've settled in." With that, she turns and flees the room,

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

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

316

From

eyes, followed by sympathy. She starts to say something, but I don't hear her. I'm already sinking to my knees,

as I tremble, overwhelmed by the unexpected

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

Fear, anger, betrayal-they swirl inside me,

breaks through the chaos. "Are you

breath. A few beats of my heart, slowing down. Meeting her concerned gaze, I give the faintest smile. "I'm

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

to Selene, running my fingers

From

edges of

says, her voice a gentle caress in my mind. But you

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

it head-on, even when it terrifies you.