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

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

1. us.

the air, thick

seems to hold its breath with us.

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Ava: Running

this agonizing moment.

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

sets me down

down,” he growls, his voice laced with an

give it pause. For a long, tense moment, they regard each other, locked in a silent battle

and it lowers its head in a grudging show of

back to me, his expression softening

a rogue,” he says, like

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

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77 Ava: Running

better time if you aren’t

he thinks better of it. “Fine. Let’s go. Stay close,

howl. I nod.

“They still haven’t caught our trail, but they’re getting closer. We’re still five miles out.”

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

this. I

grips me, its icy tendrils constricting my lungs with every rasping breath. But each footfall on the forest floor kindles

Freedom.

men around me struggle to keep pace, their harsh pants filling

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77 Ava Running

his brow furrowed with

concern.

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

She’d made it sound like

I

And it is.

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

deep inside that I’m right. “We’ll be faster if

-to an abrupt halt. His eyes bore

Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of

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

he