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.

my parents, tired of my whining, finally

always watching.

through me, hot and bitter, fueling my words. "Why are you even saying that? What does

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

Ah. She needs something.

No wonder she's here.

almost miniscule, that was hopeful her apology was genuine. It's

her head. "I am hired to clean the

Ava From

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 ties with

or

twisting into an ugly mask of rage. "You ungrateful

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

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

Vanessa walks in, and Margot's demeanor changes instantly. She straightens, smoothing her expression into one

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

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

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

316

From

don't hear her. I'm already sinking to

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

and emotional. The sinking realization that no one, not even our neighbors, would help me Breathe, Ava, Selene murmurs in

stop the flood of emotions. Fear, anger, betrayal-they

Vanessa's gentle voice breaks through the chaos.

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

nods, understanding in 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 to me. Everything will be kept be Gratitude wells up inside me, and I manage a shaky smile. "Thank

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

From

of my

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

laugh escapes me. "Strength? I'm shaking

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