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.

a knowledge deep in my bones.

Damn it.

uh, 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

I can’t believe you ran away. I want to

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10 Ava: Freedom

insensitive. When will

my

“Never?!”

I’ll explain it all. But the first thing is the most important. I’m not human, Lise. Not exactly, anyway. My entire family, we’re shifters. I’m from the Blackwood

The ones that rule over the entire area?” Her voice is a higher

screaming.

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 I had to leave her behind for her safety. But

half–laugh sounds from

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10 Ava: Freedom

The Blackwoods. No wonder you said you’d

to move

“Mmhmm.”

that’s why you’ve just… run away. And not answered my texts in days, by the

hunches my neck down until I resemble a turtle. “I know. I’m sorry. I ditched my phone and thought I shouldn’t contact you, in case they–well. In case.”

save your number, and we are going to talk, okay? Should I get a different phone in case they like, tap mine,

around here.”

Oh, God. I hope they can’t. I got a burner. Maybe you can, too.”

the store on my way home. Are you safe right now? God, Shelby’s right here. I have to

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10 Ava: Freedom

can’t see me. “I’m safe,” I promise,

love you, girl. I’ll call you

I gave in. This was what my broken, bleeding heart needed. Love. Not rejection. Not my family. Not him. “I know. I love you,