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.

through the trees, the sound itself nipping at our heels. Anxiety spikes

a rustling sound comes from our left, 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,

seems to hold its breath with

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77 Ava:

this agonizing

wolf, its eyes glowing like embers in the darkness. It snarls, baring wicked

flinch. With a fluid motion, he sets me down and steps

growls, his voice laced with an

unwavering presence seems to give it pause. For a long, tense moment, they regard each other, locked in a silent

slowly, the wolf’s snarl fades, and it lowers its head in a grudging show of

his expression softening ever

rogue,” he says,

he lets me down. “I can’t shift, but I can

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77 Ava: Running

better time if you

it. “Fine. Let’s go. Stay close, Ava. Vester will stay

I

but they’re getting closer. We’re still five miles

my hand, squeezing it in reassurance. My lips quirk into a small

I

running, the ache in my feet from the ill–fitting sneakers is a distant concern. My heart pounds, but not from exertion–not yet. Terror still grips me, its icy tendrils constricting my lungs with every rasping breath. But each footfall on the forest floor kindles a tiny spark of

Freedom.

The men around me struggle to keep pace, their harsh pants filling the air. But I’m just

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77 Ava Running

yourself,” Lucas warns, his

concern.

to spare the breath for a reply. Selene’s words ring in my ears, a silent chorus urging

it sound like it would

if I

And it is.

feel it now, a thrumming beneath my skin,

to shift,” I say, knowing deep inside that I’m right.

me -to an abrupt halt. His eyes bore into mine, a

emotions swirling in their golden depths–disbelief, confusion, worry. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters

we’re frozen, the world around us fading into a blur of shadows and silence. It’s just us, our ragged breaths intermingling in the scant

he nods.