Tangled

10 Ava: Freedom

I make it two days before I give up and call Lisa, ten minutes before her shift. She doesn’t answer the first time, so I call again. This time, she picks up, and her annoyed voice brings tears to my eyes.

“Hello?” that wonderful voice snaps into my ear, suspicious and guarded. She thinks I’m a robocaller.

“Hey, Lise.” Somehow, I manage to sound normal.

“Ava? This isn’t your number. Did you lose your phone?”

I pick at the inseam of my jeans, staring out the train window, focusing on the rolling hills beyond the raindrops splattered against my window. I’ve switched trains a few times and bought multiple tickets at each station, just in case someone figures out how I left the city. In the end, I’ve managed to take an odd, loopy route that has me now in Washington. “Yeah. Look, if anyone from my family tries to contact you… Um. God, this is going to be a lot that I can’t explain before your shift starts, but the main thing is that if my family contacts you, tell them you don’t know anything. Save

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10 Ava: Freedom.

this number under a random name. Call me Ashley or

something.”

“Okay.”

Her instant acceptance warms my heart. My nose tingles as a few tears escape, sliding down my cheeks. It’s enough to take the edge off that pain in my chest that refuses to leave, as though something important is

missing.

It has to just be in my head, though, right…? If he was my fated mate, he would have never looked at me the way he did. I’ve never heard of a fated who hates their mate. Even the abusive ones.

he is. It’s a knowledge deep

Damn it.

ran away from home. Long story. I’m not going to be back. My family’s not going to let me go that easy.” Or maybe they’ll just be happy to get rid of me. That would be nice. I wait for her response, but there is none. Lisa’s silence has anxiety clawing

can’t believe you ran away. I want to say congratulations, but

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10 Ava: Freedom

that’s being insensitive. When will you

my lip.

“Never?!”

the most important. I’m not human, Lise. Not exactly, anyway. My entire family, we’re shifters. I’m from the Blackwood Pack, and my

The ones that rule over the entire area?” Her voice is a higher pitch that normal, but

screaming.

little sound of agreement, and she goes quiet again. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” I whisper, distress shuddering down my back. What if she doesn’t want to talk to me anymore? I know I had pre–mourned her several days before, convincing myself that

sounds from my phone. “Girl,

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10 Ava: Freedom

processing. Holy shit. The Blackwoods.

move out.”

“Mmhmm.”

that’s why you’ve just… run away. And not

turtle. “I know. I’m sorry. I

here and stared at me. I need to clock in. Look, Ave. I’ll save your number, and we are

around here.”

the hysterical giggle that escapes. “I have no idea. Oh, God. I

safe right now? God, Shelby’s right here. I have to go, but I

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10 Ava: Freedom

even though she can’t see me. “I’m safe,” I promise,

I love you, girl. I’ll call you as soon as I can.”

my first in days, tugs at the corners of my mouth. This is why I gave in. This was what my broken, bleeding heart needed. Love. Not rejection. Not my family. Not