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.

at our heels. Anxiety spikes my pulse and I cling to Lucas, drawing strength from his solid presence.

from our left, and Lucas‘ head whips around. He signals to

1. us.

in the air, thick

to hold its breath with

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Ava:

this agonizing moment.

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

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

down,” he growls, his voice laced with

seems to give it pause. For a

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

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

rogue,” he says, like that’s nothing.

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

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77 Ava: Running

better time if you aren’t holding me.”

protest, but he thinks better of it. “Fine. Let’s go. Stay close, Ava.

howl. I nod.

trail, but they’re getting closer.

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

I have

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

Freedom.

through my mind with every stride, fueling my legs to push harder, faster. The men around me struggle to keep pace, their

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77 Ava Running

yourself,” Lucas warns, his

concern.

spare the breath for a reply. Selene’s words ring in my ears, a silent chorus

sound like it

I

And it is.

it now, a thrumming beneath my skin, like electricity

I say, knowing deep inside that I’m

-to an abrupt

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

us fading into a blur of shadows and silence. It’s just us, our

he