Tangled

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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.

Hours. Until my parents, tired of my whining,

always watching. Never

Anger surges through me, hot and bitter, fueling

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

Ah. She needs something.

No wonder she's here.

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 other little parts of

"I am hired

From

"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.

or

contorts, her features twisting into an ugly mask of

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

the 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 my

Margot's demeanor changes instantly. She straightens,

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

me, curiosity etched on her face.

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

316

From the

by sympathy. 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,

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 in my mind.

doesn't stop the flood of emotions. Fear,

Vanessa's gentle voice breaks through the chaos. "Are you

heart, slowing down. Meeting her concerned gaze, I give

"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.

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

From

edges of

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

laugh escapes me. "Strength?

it head-on, even when it terrifies you. And that's