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.

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

around. He

1. us.

crackles in the air, thick and palpable, as we

forest seems to hold its breath with

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77 Ava: Running

in this agonizing moment.

massive wolf, its eyes glowing like embers in

me down and

down,” he growls, his voice laced with an

hesitates, its hackles raised, but something in Lucas‘ unwavering presence seems to give it pause. For

fades, and it lowers its head in a grudging show of submission.

it a second glance. He turns back to me, his expression

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

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

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77 Ava: Running

make better time if you aren’t holding

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

I nod.

still haven’t caught our trail, but

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

this. I

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.

push harder, faster. The men around me struggle to keep pace, their harsh pants filling

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77 Ava Running

Lucas warns, his brow

concern.

reply. Selene’s words ring in

it sound like it would

if I did.

And it is.

now, a thrumming beneath my skin, like electricity crackling through my veins.

inside that I’m right. “We’ll be

me -to an abrupt halt. His

Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the

long moment, we’re frozen, the world around us fading into a blur of shadows

finally, he