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.

still, echoing through the trees, the sound itself nipping at our heels. Anxiety spikes my pulse and I cling to Lucas, drawing strength

He signals to the others, and they fan out, forming a protective

1. us.

air, thick

forest seems to hold its

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77 Ava: Running

in this

wolf, its eyes glowing like

motion, he sets me down and steps forward, planting himself between the

his voice

but something in Lucas‘ unwavering presence seems to give it pause. For a long, tense moment, they regard each other, locked in a silent battle of

it lowers its head in

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

a rogue,” he says, like that’s nothing.

at his arms until he lets me down. “I can’t shift, but I

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77 Ava: Running

time if you aren’t holding

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

howl. I nod.

our trail, but they’re getting

My lips quirk

this. I have to.

from exertion–not yet. Terror still grips me, its

Freedom.

push harder, faster. The men around me struggle to keep pace, their harsh pants filling the air. But

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77 Ava Running

yourself,” Lucas warns, his brow furrowed

concern.

spare the breath for a reply. Selene’s words ring in my

it sound like it would be

if I

And it is.

a thrumming beneath my skin, like electricity crackling through my veins.

deep inside that I’m right. “We’ll be

pulling me -to an abrupt

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

we’re frozen, the world around us fading into a blur of shadows and silence. It’s just us, our ragged breaths intermingling in the scant space between

he nods.