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.

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

1. us.

in the air, thick

seems to hold its breath with us.

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77 Ava:

in this agonizing moment.

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

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

voice laced

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

fades, and it lowers its head in a grudging show of

doesn’t spare it a second glance. He turns back to me, his expression softening ever so slightly

says, like

at his arms until he lets me down. “I

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77 Ava: Running

make better time if you aren’t holding

face says that he wants to protest, but he thinks better of it. “Fine. Let’s go.

I

haven’t caught our trail, but

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

I have to.

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 hope

Freedom.

through my mind with every stride, fueling my legs to push harder, faster. The men around me struggle to keep pace, their harsh pants filling the air. But I’m

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77 Ava Running

yourself,” Lucas warns, his brow furrowed with

concern.

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

sound like it would be

if I

And it is.

my skin, like electricity

inside that I’m right.

my arm, pulling me -to

Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest

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

he