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 spikes my pulse and I cling to Lucas, drawing

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

1. us.

the air, thick and

forest seems to hold its breath with

13.08

217

Ava: Running

in this

like embers in the darkness. It snarls, baring wicked fangs, I

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

he growls, his voice laced with an

raised, but something in Lucas‘ unwavering presence seems to give it pause. For

and it lowers its head

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

he says,

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

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77 Ava: Running

make better time if you

it. “Fine. Let’s go. Stay close, Ava. Vester will stay on your other side. We’ll keep

howl. I nod.

caught our trail, but they’re getting closer. We’re still

lips quirk into a small smile as I squeeze

I have

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

Freedom.

to push harder, faster. The men around me struggle to keep

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77 Ava Running

Lucas warns, his brow furrowed with

concern.

head, unable to spare the breath for a reply. Selene’s words

run. She’d made it sound like it

if I did.

And it is.

beneath my skin, like

say, knowing deep inside that I’m right.

-to an abrupt halt. His eyes

FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to

us fading into a blur of shadows and silence. It’s just us, our ragged breaths intermingling in the

he nods.