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.

377

<

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 my pulse and I cling

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

1. us.

air, thick and palpable, as

hold its breath with

13.08

217

77 Ava: Running

in this agonizing

its eyes glowing like embers in

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

voice laced with an

it pause.

the wolf’s snarl fades, and it lowers

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

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

his arms until he lets me

13:08

3/7

77 Ava: Running

make better time if you aren’t

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

howl. I

caught our trail, but they’re

lips quirk into a small smile as I squeeze back.

I have

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 breath. But each footfall on the forest floor kindles a tiny spark of hope

Freedom.

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

10.08

77 Ava Running

his

concern.

breath for a reply. Selene’s words ring in my ears, a silent chorus urging me onward.

sound like

if I

And it is.

can feel it now, a thrumming beneath my skin, like

that I’m right. “We’ll

me -to an abrupt halt. His eyes bore into

worry. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and

world around us fading into a blur of shadows and

finally, he nods.