Tangled

77 Ava: Running

The haunting howls of wolves echo through the night, sending fear deep into my soul.

I shudder.

The strange shifter with the drugs curses under his breath. “They’re on the hunt,” he says, his voice low and urgent.

Lucas‘ arms tighten as he runs. It’s not the most comfortable, with all the jostling, but he manages to run while holding me as though my extra burden

doesn’t affect him at all.

How long has it been? Hours? That he’s maintained his pace without faltering. I can’t help but admire it, even

as I worry.

“It’s going to be okay,” he murmurs, his tone cold with

determination.

We pick up the pace, the shadows of the forest

seeming to press in around us as we hurry along. The howls grow louder, closer, sending icy tendrils of fear slithering through my veins.

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77 Ava: Running

“How much farther?” I ask, my voice a hushed whisper.

Lucas‘ subordinate’s response is grim. “Too far to be comfortable.” There are a few grunts of agreement among the other wolves. “We should have shifted. We would be there by now.”

Lucas just growls. “Not an option.”

The weight of his words settles over me, and I realize with a pang that he knows–he knows I can’t shift.

I swallow hard. How long has he known?

It isn’t as though it was a secret in our pack.

But it still hurts.

trees, the sound itself nipping at our heels. Anxiety spikes my pulse and I cling to Lucas, drawing

and Lucas‘ head whips around. He signals to the others, and they fan out, forming a protective circle

1. us.

in the air, thick and palpable,

hold its breath with us.

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217

Ava: Running

this agonizing

eyes glowing like

sets me down

he growls, his voice laced with

in Lucas‘ unwavering presence seems to give it pause. For a long, tense moment, they

snarl fades, and it lowers its head in

turns back to me, his expression softening ever so

he says, like that’s

I say, pushing at his arms until he lets me down. “I can’t shift, but

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77 Ava: Running

if you aren’t holding

wants to protest, but he thinks better of it. “Fine. Let’s go. Stay close, Ava. Vester will

howl. I

grimaces. “They still haven’t caught our trail, but they’re

quirk into a small smile as I squeeze back. I can

I have to.

sneakers is a distant concern. My heart pounds, but not from exertion–not yet. Terror still grips me, its icy tendrils

Freedom.

word echoes through my mind with every stride, fueling my legs to push harder, faster. The men around me

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77 Ava Running

yourself,” Lucas warns, his brow furrowed

concern.

reply. Selene’s words

it sound like it would be

I

And it is.

beneath my skin, like electricity

need to shift,” I say, knowing deep inside that I’m right. “We’ll be

arm, pulling me -to

of emotions swirling in their golden depths–disbelief, confusion, worry. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website

we’re frozen, the world around us fading into a blur of shadows and silence. It’s just us,

finally, he