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.

377

<

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.

sound itself nipping at our heels. Anxiety

head whips around. He signals to the others, and they fan

1. us.

air, thick and palpable,

forest seems to hold its breath with

13.08

217

Ava:

this agonizing moment.

like embers in the darkness. It snarls, baring wicked fangs, I tense.

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

growls, his voice laced with an unmistakable

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

slowly, the wolf’s snarl fades, and it lowers its head in a

second glance. He turns back to me, his expression softening ever

rogue,” he says,

me down. “I can’t shift, but I can run.

13:08

3/7

77 Ava: Running

if you aren’t holding

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

howl. I

but they’re getting closer.

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

this. I

the ill–fitting sneakers is a distant concern. My heart pounds, but not from exertion–not yet. Terror still grips me, its icy

Freedom.

legs to push harder, faster. The men around me struggle to keep pace,

10.08

77 Ava Running

warns, his

concern.

unable to spare the breath for a reply. Selene’s words

made it sound like it would be

I

And it is.

now, a thrumming beneath my skin, like electricity

that I’m

my arm, pulling me -to an abrupt halt. His eyes bore

confusion, worry. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters

frozen, the world around us fading into a blur of shadows and silence. It’s just

he