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 sound itself nipping at our heels. Anxiety spikes my pulse and I cling to

comes from our left, and Lucas‘ head whips around. He signals to the others, and they fan out, forming a

1. us.

in the air, thick and palpable, as

seems to hold its breath

13.08

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77 Ava:

in this agonizing

shadows–a massive wolf, its eyes glowing like embers in the

a fluid motion, he sets me down

growls, his voice laced with an unmistakable

in Lucas‘ unwavering presence seems to give it pause. For a long,

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

to me, his expression softening ever so slightly as he scoops me up

rogue,” he says, like that’s nothing.

until he lets me down. “I can’t

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77 Ava: Running

if

Let’s go. Stay close, Ava.

howl. I

our trail, but they’re

grabs at my hand, squeezing it in reassurance. My lips quirk into

I have to.

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,

Freedom.

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

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77 Ava Running

Lucas warns, his brow

concern.

the breath for a reply. Selene’s words ring in my ears, a silent

made it sound like it

I

And it is.

can feel it now, a thrumming beneath my skin, like electricity crackling through my

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

and he grips my arm, pulling me -to an abrupt halt. His eyes bore

Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website

world around us fading into a blur of shadows and silence. It’s

he