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.

still, echoing through the trees, the sound itself nipping at our heels. Anxiety spikes my pulse and I cling to Lucas, drawing strength from his

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

1. us.

air, thick and

The forest seems to hold its breath with

13.08

217

77 Ava: Running

this agonizing moment.

glowing like embers in the

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

down,” he growls, his voice laced with an unmistakable

but something in Lucas‘ unwavering presence seems to give it pause. For

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

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

says, like that’s

until he lets me down. “I can’t shift, but I can run. I’m fine. We’ll

13:08

3/7

77 Ava: Running

if you aren’t holding me.”

that he 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

I

trail, but they’re getting closer. We’re still five

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

this. I

not from exertion–not yet. Terror still grips me, its icy tendrils constricting my lungs

Freedom.

echoes through my mind with every stride, fueling my legs to push harder, faster. The men around me

10.08

77 Ava Running

warns, his brow furrowed

concern.

shake my head, unable to spare the breath for a reply. Selene’s words ring in my ears, a silent chorus urging me

sound

if I did.

And it is.

thrumming beneath my skin, like electricity crackling through my

that I’m right. “We’ll be faster if you

me -to an abrupt halt. His eyes bore

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

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

finally, he