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. Anxiety spikes my pulse and I cling to Lucas, drawing strength from

and Lucas‘ head whips around. He signals to the others, and they fan out,

1. us.

in the air, thick and

to hold its

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77 Ava:

in this

wolf, its eyes glowing like embers in the darkness. It snarls, baring wicked fangs, I tense.

flinch. With a fluid motion, he sets me down and steps forward, planting himself between the wolf and

his voice laced with

pause. For a long,

wolf’s snarl fades, and it lowers

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

says, like that’s nothing.

can 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

if you aren’t

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

I nod. “Okay.”

trail, but they’re getting closer.

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

this. I have

we start running, the ache in my feet 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

Freedom.

fueling my legs to push harder, faster. The men around me struggle to keep pace, their harsh pants filling the

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77 Ava Running

his

concern.

Selene’s words ring

She’d made it sound like it would be

I did.

And it is.

a thrumming beneath my skin, like electricity

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

-to an abrupt halt. His eyes bore into mine,

Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to

blur of shadows and silence.

he