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.

the sound itself nipping at our heels. Anxiety

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

1. us.

in the air, thick and palpable,

seems to hold its

13.08

217

77 Ava: Running

this agonizing

a figure emerges from the shadows–a massive wolf, its eyes glowing like embers in the darkness. It snarls, baring wicked fangs, I tense.

fluid motion, he sets me down and

down,” he growls, his voice laced with an

in Lucas‘ unwavering presence seems to give it pause. For a long, tense moment, they regard

wolf’s snarl fades, and it lowers its head in a grudging show of

me, his expression

a rogue,” he says,

until he lets me down. “I can’t shift, but

13:08

3/7

77 Ava: Running

time if you aren’t

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

howl. I

caught our trail, but they’re

in reassurance. My lips quirk into

I

pounds, but not from exertion–not yet. Terror still grips me, its icy tendrils constricting my

Freedom.

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

10.08

77 Ava Running

yourself,” Lucas warns, his brow furrowed

concern.

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

made it sound like it would be

if I did.

And it is.

my skin, like electricity crackling through

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

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

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

us fading into a blur of shadows and silence. It’s just us, our ragged breaths intermingling in the scant space between

he