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into neighboring parking spaces, so I don’t do it unless I have to. When I’m renting a space it’s fine, but parking lots are a different matter. But it’s free, so I can’t complain.”
Evan shifts beside me, checking his watch as she hands us each a glass of water. “Actually, Violet. we should probably get going. We’ve stayed longer than we should have.”
Echo rests her chin on her hand, observing us with her strange, slitted eyes. I fiddle with the glass, not answering Evan. He’s right about the time, but I’m oddly reluctant to leave this tiny, colorful haven.
I’ve known this woman for all of an hour, yet there’s something about her–something free and untethered, calling to the part of me that’s been controlled my entire life.
“You could come with me, you know. Echo’s voice breaks through my though
My head snaps up, my heart suddenly thumping faster in my chest. “What?”
“You can come with me. I want to visit Yellowstone, so I’m headed that way tomorrow. I’ve got a friend there with some land and full hook–ups, so I can stay a while if I want to.” She traces a pattern on the tabletop with her finger without looking, her eyes on mine. “You’d be welcome to tag along”
Yellowstone. It’s a national park; I’ve seen pictures of it. And it’s really far from here, putting a massive amount of distance between me and anyone with fur.
“Absolutely not,” Evan says, glancing at me. His voice lowers. “Don’t forget, Xander’s coming
soon.”
Ugh. This is why I didn’t want Evan to stick around.
Echo’s eyebrows rise, but she doesn’t seem particularly offended. “Just offering” She shrugs, the gesture fluid and unconcerned, and sips at her water.
“Sorry. I’m not trying to be rude. We appreciate your help, but we have plans. And we don’t know you very well.” Evan’s polite, at least, as he explains things to her.
“Fair enough.” She smiles at me, not him. “The offer stands though. Especially if those plans aren’t really what you want to do.”
I open my mouth, not even sure what I’m going to say, when Evan’s hand presses lightly on my
arm.
“We really should go, he murmurs.
If he wasn’t here, I know I’d take her up on the offer, but Evan-
Wait. So what if Evan’s right here? It isn’t like I’m obligated to follow along with their ridiculous plan of bringing me back to the Blue Mountain Pack. In fact, I never planned on playing long with their plan to begin with. Evan was always just a means out of there.
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I square my shoulders, my shirt damp against my back, thanks to my wet hair. Something about the chemical smell lingering on my skin feels like a transformation–like shedding my old life.
“I want to come with you, I tell Echo, my voice louder than I meant for it to be. “To Yellowstone. If
you really don’t mind.”
The words hang in the cramped air. For a split second, I feel weightless, like I’ve jumped off a cliff and haven’t started falling yet. It’s even better than when I tried to escape the first time; it feels as if I can reach out and touch the light at the end of my dark and twisted tunnel of life. “Violet!” Evan jumps up, but his thighs slam into the underside of the table. Water sloshes over the rim of his glass and he drops back into his seat, rubbing his legs as he curses, “Shit!” Echo’s slitted eyes widen slightly, but her expression remains neutral as she watches our exchange.
“You can’t be serious,” Evan hisses at me, snatching at my forearm. “What about Xander?” 1 yank my arm from his grip. The mention of Xander’s name hardens something inside me- calcifics all the doubts swirling through my mind. Echo might even be the kind of person who lures innocent girls out of stores only to sell them later, but I’m taking my chances.
“I have absolutely no interest in returning to the pack, Evan. Not for Xander. Not for anyone. Evan’s lips press together, his face dark. “The plan-”
“Was never my plan. It was yours and Nora’s, remember? You should go back, Evan.”
“Violet, you don’t understand what you’re doing.” His voice drops even lower, eyes darting to Echo and back to me. “The Lycan King-”
“Killed Brax” The words emerge flat and factual. “I know. I was there.”
“Then you know what he’s capable of!” Evan leans closer. “And he’s fixated on you. If you disappear now-
“That’s exactly why I need to disappear. You being here isn’t going to help me. It isn’t like you can win against him.”
He flinches.
I press my palms against the cool table. “I’m out now. I’m going to live my life on my terms. You aren’t a part of my life. Neither is Xander. You should go back to the pack. You belong there, don’t you?”
Evan’s jaw tightens, his hands curling into fists. “That’s not fair, Violet.”
A bitter laugh escapes me. “Was it fair when Xander abandoned me during the Mate Hunt? Was it fair when Alpha threw me to the omegas? Was it fair when Nora tormented me every chance she got?
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“I’m done with fair. I’m done with all of it. You’ve been kinder than most, but you’re still theirs. Not mine.”
Evan’s face falls. “I thought we were friends, Violet.”
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