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.

itself nipping at our heels. Anxiety spikes my pulse and I cling to Lucas,

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

1. us.

the air, thick and palpable, as we

to hold its breath with us.

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77 Ava: Running

this

glowing like embers in the darkness.

down and

he growls, his voice laced with an unmistakable

raised, but something in Lucas‘ unwavering presence seems to give it pause. For a long, tense moment, they regard

lowers its head

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

a rogue,” he says, like

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

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77 Ava: Running

time if you aren’t

says 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 safe.”

I nod.

haven’t caught our trail, but they’re getting closer. We’re still five

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

this. I

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

Freedom.

to push harder, faster. The men around me struggle

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77 Ava Running

Lucas warns, his brow furrowed with

concern.

for a reply. Selene’s words ring in my ears, a silent

run. She’d made it sound like it

if I

And it is.

a thrumming beneath my skin, like

shift,” I say, knowing deep inside that I’m right. “We’ll be faster if you

and he grips my arm, pulling me -to an abrupt halt. His eyes bore into

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

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

finally, he