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.

the trees, the sound itself nipping at our heels. Anxiety spikes my pulse and

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

1. us.

the air, thick and palpable, as we

seems to hold its breath with

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77 Ava:

in this agonizing moment.

shadows–a massive wolf, its eyes glowing like embers in the darkness. It

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

growls, his voice laced with

to give it pause. For a long, tense moment,

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

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

a rogue,” he says, like that’s

say, pushing at his arms until he lets me down.

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77 Ava: Running

time if you aren’t holding

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

howl. I

caught our trail, but they’re

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

this. I have

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.

faster. The men around me struggle to keep pace, their harsh

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77 Ava Running

yourself,” Lucas warns, his brow furrowed

concern.

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

it sound

if I did.

And it is.

my skin, like electricity

knowing deep inside that I’m right. “We’ll be faster if

me -to an abrupt halt. His eyes bore

depths–disbelief, confusion, worry. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ

shadows and silence. It’s just us, our ragged breaths intermingling in the

finally, he