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.

sound itself nipping at our heels. Anxiety spikes

Lucas‘ head whips around. He signals to the others,

1. us.

in the air, thick and palpable, as we

The forest seems to hold its breath

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217

Ava: Running

this

massive wolf, its eyes glowing like embers in the

flinch. With a fluid motion, he sets me down and steps forward,

voice laced

hesitates, its hackles raised, but something in Lucas‘ unwavering presence seems to give it pause. For a long,

lowers its head in

his expression softening ever so slightly

says, like that’s

pushing at his arms until he lets me

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77 Ava: Running

make better time if you aren’t

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

I nod. “Okay.”

trail, but

My lips quirk into a small smile as I squeeze back. I can

I

distant concern. My heart pounds, but not from exertion–not yet. Terror still grips me, its icy tendrils constricting my lungs with

Freedom.

stride, fueling my legs to push harder, faster. The men around me struggle to

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77 Ava Running

his brow furrowed

concern.

Selene’s words ring in my ears, a silent chorus urging me

She’d made it sound like it would

I

And it is.

thrumming beneath my skin, like electricity crackling through my

shift,” I say, knowing deep inside that I’m

grips my arm, pulling me -to an abrupt halt. His

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

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

finally, he