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

sound comes from our left, and Lucas‘ head whips around. He

1. us.

air, thick and

to hold its

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217

Ava:

in this agonizing moment.

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

doesn’t flinch. With a fluid motion, he sets me down and

he growls, his voice laced with

give it pause. For a long, tense moment, they regard each other, locked in

lowers its

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

a rogue,” he says,

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

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77 Ava: Running

better time if you aren’t holding me.”

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 keep you

howl. I

“They still haven’t caught our trail, but

squeezing it in reassurance. My lips quirk into a small smile as I squeeze back. I can

this. I have

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 hope

Freedom.

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

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77 Ava Running

Lucas warns, his

concern.

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

She’d made it sound

I

And it is.

it now, a thrumming beneath my skin, like electricity

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

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

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

blur of shadows and silence. It’s just us, our ragged breaths intermingling in the scant space between us.

he