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.

howls grow louder still, echoing through the trees, the sound itself nipping at our heels. Anxiety spikes my pulse and I cling to

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

1. us.

air, thick and palpable,

to hold its breath with

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217

Ava: Running

in this agonizing moment.

shadows–a massive wolf, its eyes glowing like embers in the darkness. It snarls, baring wicked

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

growls, his voice laced with an

it pause. For a long,

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

second glance. He turns back to me, his expression softening ever so slightly as he scoops me up

rogue,” he says, like

me down. “I can’t shift, but I

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77 Ava: Running

make better time if you aren’t holding

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

I

caught our trail, but they’re getting closer. We’re still five miles

in reassurance. My lips quirk into

I have to.

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

Freedom.

word echoes through my mind with every stride, fueling my legs to push harder, faster. The men around me struggle to keep pace, their harsh pants filling

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77 Ava Running

his brow furrowed

concern.

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

sound like it would be

I did.

And it is.

my skin, like electricity crackling

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

me -to an abrupt halt. His eyes bore

in their golden depths–disbelief, confusion, worry. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt

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

finally, he nods.