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.

our heels. Anxiety

head whips around. He signals to the others, and they fan out, forming a protective

1. us.

thick and palpable, as

seems to hold its breath

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77 Ava: Running

in this

glowing like embers in the darkness. It snarls, baring wicked

down and steps forward, planting himself between the wolf and

his voice laced with an unmistakable

pause. For a long, tense moment, they regard each other,

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

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

a rogue,” he says,

I say, pushing at his arms until he lets me down.

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77 Ava: Running

better time if you aren’t

protest, but he thinks better of it. “Fine. Let’s go. Stay close, Ava. Vester will stay on your other side. We’ll

howl. I nod.

but they’re getting closer. We’re still five miles

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

this. I

from the ill–fitting sneakers is a distant concern. My heart pounds, but not from exertion–not yet. Terror still grips me, its icy tendrils constricting my lungs with every rasping breath. But

Freedom.

faster. The men around me struggle to keep pace, their harsh pants filling the air. But I’m just getting

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77 Ava Running

Lucas warns, his brow furrowed with

concern.

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

She’d made it sound

if I did.

And it is.

beneath my skin, like electricity

inside that I’m right. “We’ll

pulling me -to an abrupt halt. His eyes

swirling in their golden depths–disbelief, confusion, worry. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters

of shadows and silence.

he