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.

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

rustling sound comes from our left, and Lucas‘ head whips around. He signals to the others, and

1. us.

in the air, thick and palpable,

hold its breath with us.

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217

Ava: Running

this agonizing moment.

from the shadows–a massive wolf, its eyes glowing like

doesn’t flinch. With a fluid motion, he sets me down and steps forward, planting himself between

voice laced

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

the wolf’s snarl fades, and it lowers its

a second glance. He turns back to me, his expression softening ever so slightly as he scoops me

a rogue,” he says, like that’s nothing.

lets me down.

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77 Ava: Running

make better time if you

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

howl. I nod. “Okay.”

haven’t caught our trail, but they’re

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

I have

start 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

Freedom.

push harder, faster. The men around me struggle to

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77 Ava Running

warns, his brow furrowed

concern.

my head, unable to spare the breath for a reply. Selene’s words ring in my ears,

She’d made it sound like it

I

And it is.

beneath my skin, like electricity crackling through my

that I’m right. “We’ll

and he grips my arm, pulling me -to an abrupt halt.

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

world around us fading into a blur of shadows

he