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.

parents, tired

watching.

back. "You're sorry?" Anger surges through me, hot and bitter, fueling my words. "Why are you even saying

understand, none of us could help you. Please." She grabs at my arm again. "We need you to understand us. To speak

Ah. She needs something.

No wonder she's here.

in my veins, even as 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

am hired to clean

From

saw you." Her eyes fill with tears. "Please, Ava. Think of your pack. So many of us are separated now. Taken from our mates. Forced to cut

intention of helping you or anyone else. from

features twisting into an

cuts her off. Selene stalks into the room, her hackles. raised, teeth bared. She positions herself between Margot and

returns the growl, her eyes flashing amber. For a moment, I think she might actually shift

walks in, and Margot's demeanor changes instantly. She

clipped. "We can talk when you've settled in." With that, she turns and flees the room, brushing past

then turns to me, curiosity etched on her face.

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

316

Aws: From the

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

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

both physical and emotional. The sinking realization that no one, not even our neighbors, would help me Breathe, Ava, Selene murmurs in my mind. You're safe now. She can't

stop the flood of emotions. Fear,

breaks through the

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

something to be ashamed of. If you're interested, just talk to me. Everything will be

leaves, I turn my attention back to Selene, running my fingers through her soft fur. Her presence is a balm, soothing

From the

edges of

she says, her voice a gentle

bitter laugh escapes me. "Strength?

the absence of fear, Ava. It's facing it head-on, even when it terrifies you. And that's exactly