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 of my whining,

always watching. Never

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

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

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

hired to clean

From

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.

helping you or anyone else. from that pack.

contorts, her features twisting into an

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

changes instantly. She straightens, smoothing her expression into one

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

to me, curiosity etched on her face. "Who

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

316

Aws: From the

Vanessa's eyes, followed by sympathy. She starts to say something, but I don't

nuzzling against me as I tremble, overwhelmed

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's right, but it doesn't stop the flood of emotions. Fear, anger, betrayal-they

gentle voice breaks through the chaos. "Are

shuddering breath. A few beats of my heart, slowing down. Meeting her concerned gaze,

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

attention back to Selene, running my fingers through her soft fur. Her

Ava: From

of my

gentle caress

escapes me. "Strength? I'm shaking

It's facing it head-on,