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.

at our heels. Anxiety spikes my pulse and I cling to Lucas, drawing strength from his solid presence.

Lucas‘ head whips around. He

1. us.

in the air, thick and palpable,

seems to hold its breath

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217

Ava: Running

this agonizing moment.

its eyes glowing like embers in the

he sets me down and steps forward, planting himself between the wolf and

he growls, his voice laced

its hackles raised, but something in Lucas‘ unwavering presence seems to give it pause. For a long, tense moment, they regard each other, locked in a silent battle

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

his expression softening ever so slightly as he

says, like that’s nothing.

his arms until he lets me

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77 Ava: Running

if you aren’t holding me.”

to protest, but he thinks better of it. “Fine. Let’s go. Stay close, Ava. Vester will stay on your other side.

I nod. “Okay.”

but they’re getting closer. We’re

My lips quirk into a small smile as I squeeze back. I

I have to.

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

Freedom.

my mind with every stride, fueling my legs to push harder, faster. The men around me struggle to keep pace, their harsh pants filling the air.

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77 Ava Running

Lucas warns, his brow furrowed with

concern.

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

made it sound like

if I

And it is.

now, a thrumming beneath my skin, like electricity

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

me -to an abrupt halt. His eyes bore

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

us fading into a blur of shadows and silence. It’s just us, our ragged breaths intermingling in the

finally, he